Rem Murray still can't believe the most heartwarming story of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and he's the one writing it.
It's understandable, though. Murray's comeback does resemble
something straight out of the Sylvester Stallone school of melodrama: A
popular, hard-working blue-collar forward is forced into retirement
with a permanent, painful nerve disorder in his neck ... only to
resurrect his career, return to his old team and help the underdogs
make it to the championship final.
The only things missing are Talia Shire, Mr. T and a soundtrack blaring over some one-armed pushups.
"This whole thing has been incredible, an unbelievable
experience," said Murray, days away from a Cup final he never thought
he'd see. "I can't describe the feeling I go through every day just
thinking about it, having this opportunity.
"After the Anaheim series I just sat in my locker stall after
the game, kind of numb. It hasn't really hit me yet, which is maybe a
good thing, how much it would mean to win the Stanley Cup after
everything I've been through."
Murray's personal struggle has been well-documented (his
determination earned him a Masterton Award nomination for perseverance
and dedication to hockey) and if the pinnacle of his journey was that
first emotional shift when the Oilers signed him last March, it would
have been enough.
Good comeback. Good story.
But when you'd made it that far, why stop there? In his 11
weeks here, Murray's gone from bit player and press-box observer to a
regular in the playoffs. What might have seemed like a charity case at
the time now looks more like an investment that's paying off when it
counts the most.
SOME BIG MINUTES
"He's playing great out there," said friend and teammate Ethan
Moreau. "When he had to retire he was a 40-point guy, a great two-way
player, and that kind of got lost along the way. When he first came
back here fans and media thought we were getting a journeyman or a role
player, but he's a hell of a player and he's close to where he was
before. He's played some big minutes for us in the playoffs."
And his story gets better by the day.
"I remember talking to him on the phone earlier in the year,"
said Moreau. "He's playing in (AHL) Houston, not really a lot of
options, now all of a sudden he's in the Stanley Cup final.
"It's a pretty good lesson for everybody, not just in hockey but in life: things can turn around in a hurry."
It has indeed been a whirlwind, but Murray has become an expert at slowing it all down so he can soak it all up.
"Each and every game," said the 33-year-old, who has the nerve
disorder under control with regular Botox injections. "Just being in
the room, getting ready with the guys, the excitement and the
atmosphere in Edmonton. I try to take it in as much as I can because I
know what I've been through.
WHERE HE WANTS TO BE
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, the way the city is rallying around us. It's hard to put into words, really."
Being Edmonton's first trip to the final since 1990, almost
everyone on the team has a feel-good yarn about how they finally made
it to the place of their childhood dreams - Ryan Smyth, Chris Pronger
and Jason Smith have all taken long, hard roads to get here - but
Murray's route is the one that most inspires his teammates.
"There's not a single guy here I'm happier for," said Moreau.
"He's been here a long time and he went through some tough
years, but he's an Oiler through and through. And the best part of the
story is there's no financial gain (all of his salary goes to pay back
the insurance company).
"He's playing for one reason and one reason only - to win a Stanley Cup.
"And now it's almost there. That's pretty cool. Things like this don't happen that often in sports."
Originally, this was supposed to be it. One last hurrah.
His game has come along so well, however, that there's no ruling out next year.
But that's next year. Right now he's much too busy with today to even think about tomorrow.
"I'm just enjoying the moment."
