The clock is ticking

The Chicago Blackhawks made Johan Mattsson the 211th and final selection of the 2011 NHL draft Saturday.

The moment Mattsson’s name was called, Ryan Murray was on the clock.

The end of the 2011 draft means those eligible for 2012 step to the forefront in the hockey prospect world, and

that means much of the scouting community will turn its focus toward Everett and Murray.

This year’s NHL draft was primarily for players born in 1993. Murray, Everett’s star defenseman, counts himself among that group. But because Murray was born after the Sept. 15 cutoff date he’s not eligible for the draft until next year, despite having already played two full seasons in the WHL, and despite being generally regarded as the best 1993-born defenseman in North America.

Just how highly is Murray regarded? He’s already a Hockey Canada golden boy, having captained Canada’s U-18 team at two major tournaments and has been fast-tracked for the World Junior Hockey Championships. Last December, he was the youngest player on The Hockey News’ list of hockey’s 40 people of influence under the age of 40. Analysts have said Murray would have been a top-10 pick in this year’s draft and would have been capable of playing in the NHL in the upcoming season.

So what puts Murray so high on everyone’s list? At 6-foot and 191 pounds he’s not particularly big. His stats — six goals and 40 assists in 70 games last season — don’t jump off the page. Yet he makes scouts, whether for the NHL or for Hockey Canada, salivate. Why?

First off there’s his skating. Murray’s top-end speed is merely good rather than great. However, when it comes to maneuverability, agility and balance there’s no one better.

Then there’s his skill. Murray has top-notch skills, even if he doesn’t always show them off. He’s capable of putting up big offensive numbers, but he understands his first responsibility is to take care of his own end, so he’s selective about activating in the attacking zone. Murray’s skill can actually be seen better on defense as he always seems to come away with the puck during stick battles.

And then there’s his compete level. Over the course of two seasons Murray has proven himself a player who gives his all each and every night, regardless of the circumstances. He worked hard every night when Everett finished tied for the best record in the Western Conference in 2009-10, and he worked even harder every night when the Tips struggled through 2010-11.

But Murray’s most-valuable asset by far is his hockey sense. This guy just never makes a wrong decision. He sees the passing lanes like radar — he always makes the correct first pass out of the defensive zone, and he has a knack for finding those narrow openings to the back door in the offensive zone. He has an uncanny ability to stop two-on-ones without allowing the offensive team to get off a shot. And he never gets hit hard. The opposition constantly targets Murray, but Murray will perform a tight turn or make a little head fake and the aggressor ends up missing Murray and slamming full-speed into the boards.

And Murray does this all instinctually, so there’s never that slight hesitation that comes from needing to think about the correct play.

The player Murray is invariably compared to is Scott Niedermayer. Niedermayer, a four-time Stanley Cup champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, Norris Trophy winner and certain hall of famer, made his name by being a modest-sized defenseman who did everything well without a lot of flash. That describes Murray to a T.

Therefore, the green room at Comcast Arena will overflow with NHL scouts during the upcoming season. Murray is already considered a top-five player for the 2012 NHL draft. There’s even been the faintest whispers of going first overall. That flock of scouts will make the final determination.

It’s going to be a challenging season for Murray from a media standpoint. Murray, as a top prospect for the draft and a lock to be a key member of Canada’s team for World Juniors, will will be at the center of the Canadian national spotlight. He’s going to be hounded by media requests from all across Canada, and he’s going to end up answering the same questions over and over and over again.

Oddly enough, all the scrutiny may actually hurt Murray’s draft stock. As a late birthdate, the scouts will have three years worth of games to evaluate. The scouting tendency, when a player is viewed repeatedly, is to nitpick. Already some scouts are asking questions about why Murray doesn’t score more goals.

But if ever there was a player with the ability to handle the scrutiny, it’s Murray. Murray is a special player, that rare example of an individual who combines top physical tools with the best mental and emotional make-up. Everett is lucky to have him, and it’s been a pleasure to watch him play.

Make sure you appreciate Murray when you see him with the Tips in the upcoming season. It may be your last chance to see him in Everett. The NHL is calling, and it’s likely Murray will be headed to the highest level sooner rather than later.

Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at NickHPatterson.