Defenseman Ryan Murphy, the Canes' first-round draft pick this year, has been returned to his junior team, Canes general manager Jim Rutherford said today.
Murphy, 18, will play another season for the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League. Murphy was placed on the Canes' NHL roster at the beginning of the season but did not play in the Canes' first four games.
"We are very pleased with Ryan's training camp," Rutherford said. "The fact he went beyond the start of the season with us as an 18-year-old defenseman is really exceptional and tells what we think of him. He has a great future with us.
"We feel him staying with us an extra week and participating in practice and seeing regular-season games, getting a feel for the tempo of games and the tempo of practices, will help him this season and help in his development."
Murphy, from Aurora, Ont., was the No. 12 pick of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
The Canes went into the season with nine defensemen on the roster. Rutherford said the Canes would continue to carry eight on the roster for now, including 19-year-old Justin Faulk, who played the first three games.
"We are trying to be cautious with our young defensemen," Rutherford said. "Sometimes we need to remind ourselves how old they are."
