Murphy was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the sixth round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft with the 165th overall pick. On March 18, 2009, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Hurricanes. In 2007–08, Murphy led the Belleville Bulls to the finals of the J. Ross Robertson Cup, the OHL championship series, but they lost Game 7 to the Kitchener Rangers.