Former 1st overall pick is homeless on the streets


Joe Murphy is homeless in Kenora, Ontario at 50-years-old. The Michigan State star, who was drafted first overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 1986, is the subject of a TSN documentary.

After parts of four seasons with the Red Wings, Murphy won a Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers in 1990, spent time with the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals. His last season in the NHL was 2000-01. In 779 career games, the right winger scored 233 goals and 295 assists.

Murphy was among the former players who filed a class-action concussion lawsuit against the NHL this year. The lawsuit argued:

Mr. Murphy suffered multiple head traumas during his NHL career that were improperly diagnosed and treated by the NHL. Mr. Murphy never was warned by the NHL of the negative health effects of head trauma.

The class-action lawsuit was unsuccessful. But he can still pursue his own claim against the NHL.

Murphy was also a notorious partier. It's unclear whether concussions, drugs or other factors led him to be homeless. Here is the trailer for Wednesday’s debut of  'Finding Murph' on TSN: