Bob Murray was, first and foremost, a Chicago Blackhawks through and through. He was drafted, played for, and managed the Windy City club. The 'Hawks drafted Murray 52nd overall from the Cornwall Royals. In his first season with the Royals, Murray had contributed to their successful Memorial Cup run.
Murray played his first professional season with the Dallas Black Hawks of the Central Hockey League. His 57 points helped earn him a blueline spot with the big club the next season. He managed just three points in 1975-76. The next campaign saw his production increase sevenfold. In fact, he continued to improve up to the 1980-81 season when he racked up 60 points. The joy of a personally-satisfying season ended when the Blackhawks were swept by the Calgary Flames in the opening round of the 1981 playoffs.
Chicago, with Bob Murray, finally experienced playoff success in 1982 when they lasted to the semi-finals. In a four year stretch, the 'Hawks made the final four in three of those years. Murray played in two All-Star Games, 1981 and 1983, collecting one assist.
He continued to play in the NHL through to 1988, when he finally went back to the minors for a short stay at the beginning of 1988-89. It wasn't long before he was back in Chicago and on the way to the semis again. The Blackhawks repeated the feat in 1990.
In 1990, Bob Murray retired, having been on five Blackhawks teams that finished one round short of the Stanley Cup. He finished his playing career holding the team record among defensemen for games played and was ranked second in scoring among the team's blueliners.
The 'Hawks made the finals two years later, but by that time Murray was in their director of player personnel. In 1997, he was named general manager for the team. He was subsequently removed from the position in 1999.
