NLL Insider

He’s started for Team Canada in both of their two WILC gold medal performances, but for some reason, Colorado Mammoth defender Bruce Murray is very rarely mentioned as one of the pro’s best defenders.

Murray, like Jarett Park, had only had the chance to play in front of pretty sparse crowds in places like Vancouver, Anaheim, and Arizona, and it really wasn’t until last year, when he got picked up by the Colorado Mammoth, that the mainstream NLL fan finally started noticing, Murray is pretty damn good.

The 6′1″ 250 lbs. plus pure D monster is pretty mobile for a guy his size, gaining a rep as a defender that plays solid shut down defense, but also one that anticipates the other teams game plan better than most.

Murray’s ability to swat down a ton of balls as well as holding up guys with an explosive first step is a perfect example of what a “smart” defender should be in this league.

Few defenders combine size, strength, skill and leadership like Murray does. His versatile and intelligent game is what Canadian junior ball players that never played college ball should look to if they wanna push their game to that next level.

His play for the Mammoth last year definitely pushed his game into that top ten defender plateau, some GM’s even told us he’s maybe a top five guy. Either way, his game is finally gaining some notoriety from pretty much everyone connected to the bigs, and it’s very much deserved.

Not sure if there was some back door dealing in order to let Murray slip to the seven spot in the last Arizona Sting Dispersal Draft, but the Mammoth brass have gotta be pretty happy they were able to secure the Coquitlam Adanacs’ captain for the long haul.

Does Murray belong in the NLL Insider Top 50? Hit the boards and let us know what your Top 50 looks like heading into the 2009 NLL season…

#50 Matt Roik, San Jose Stealth
#49 Jon Sullivan, Minnesota Swarm
#48 Billy Dee Smith, Buffalo Bandits
#47 Steve Toll, Rochester Knighthawks
#46 Jarett Park, New York Titans
#45 Bruce Murray, Colorado Mammoth

Hit this link for NLL Insider’s Top 50 archive and keep checkin’ back every week as we countdown the top 50 best in the pro game, with #1 being named just before the NLL season kicks off.

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