PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Columbus Blue Jackets took a major step to shore up their porous defense, taking defenseman Ryan Murray with the second pick in the NHL draft on Friday night.
The 6-foot, 198-pound Murray spent the last three seasons with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League. He led Everett defensemen in scoring in each of the last two seasons. He had nine goals and 22 assists in 46 games this season.
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The 18-year-old Murray played for Team Canada at the 2012 World Championships, becoming the youngest Canadian since Paul Kariya in 1993 to play on the senior team.
Murray is part of a rebuilding process in Columbus, which finished with the worst record in the league this season. Earlier Friday, the Blue Jackets traded for Philadelphia goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
