With the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, the Columbus Blue Jackets beefed up their defensive unit even further by taking Ryan Murray of the Western Hockey League's Everett Silvertips.
The 6-foot, 185 pound lefty tallied 31 points in 46 games for the Silvertips this season, and was widely considered the No. 2 available player in the draft behind No. 1 overall pick Nail Yakupov. Murray is a two-way defender with a smart, heady style and the unshakeable toughness to deal with the day-to-day grind of an NHL season right away.
He represented Team Canada at the World Championships earlier this year, and became the youngest player to play in the tournament since Paul Kariya. Though he does not project as an elite blue line scorer in the pros, Murray is an adept passer and should have a lengthy, productive career.
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