'Burgh's Best to Wear It, No. 55: Larry Murphy still holds unique place in Penguins history

The Tribune-Review sports staff is conducting a daily countdown of the best players in Pittsburgh pro and college sports history to wear each jersey number.

No. 55: Larry Murphy

Paul Coffey was the Penguins’ best defenseman of all time until Kris Letang surpassed him by most measures.

And Randy Carlyle remains the only member of the franchise to win the Norris Trophy, which recognizes the NHL’s top defenseman.

But the person who holds one of the more unique records in franchise history — most points in a single postseason by a defenseman — is the under-appreciated Larry Murphy.

Acquired via trade in December 1990, Murphy was a skilled defenseman who put up potent offensive figures throughout his first 11 years in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings, Washington Capitals and Minnesota North Stars. But with the deep Penguins, he reached new heights.

While Coffey was sidelined for much of the 1991 postseason because of eye and jaw injuries, Murphy took over as the team’s No. 1 defenseman and scored 23 points in 23 games, still the franchise mark for players at his position, as the team claimed its first Stanley Cup title.

When Coffey requested a trade in 1992, it was easy to deal him thanks to the presence of Murphy, who became the team’s No. 1 defenseman and lifted the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive spring.

Murphy spent another three seasons with the Penguins, becoming one of the league’s top offensive defensemen over that span. By 2004, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

There’s stiff competition for the best No. 55 in Pittsburgh sports history.

• Defenseman Sergei Gonchar remains one of the biggest free-agent signings in Penguins history. Joining the team after the 2004-05 lockout, Gonchar served as a veteran presence for a younger team, most notably fellow Russian Evgeni Malkin. Filling the dual role of landlord and mentor to Malkin, Gonchar oversaw his development into one of the greatest players in NHL history. Gonchar wasn’t too shabby on the ice, either, helping the franchise claim its third Stanley Cup title in 2009.

• Pirates first baseman Josh Bell is probably the best current No. 55 in Pittsburgh. A second-round pick in 2011, Bell made his MLB debut in 2016, hitting a grand slam in his second career at-bat. In 2017, Bell finished third in voting for Rookie of the Year by hitting 27 home runs with 90 RBIs. After regressing throughout 2018, he rebounded last season with 37 home runs, 116 RBIs and an All-Star Game selection.

• Former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter was the most flamboyant No. 55 in Pittsburgh. A third-round pick in 1999, Porter spent eight seasons chasing quarterbacks for the Steelers and was named to three Pro Bowls. He was a vital component of the franchise’s Super Bowl XL championship.

• Former Steelers offensive tackle Jon Kolb might have been the strongest No. 55 in Pittsburgh. A third-round pick in 1969, Kolb was the starting left tackle for most of his 13 seasons with the Steelers, including their first four Super Bowl victories. Toward the end of his playing career, Kolb participated in the 1978 and ’79 World Strongest Man contests, finishing fourth in each competition.

Check out the entire ’Burgh’s Best to Wear It series here.