The Chicago Blackhawks are still in their rebuild and should look to deal some pending free agents to get some assets back during the season.
If Chicago is outside of a playoff spot at the trade deadline, as widely expected, the Blackhawks will have some intriguing players to deal. One of them that multiple teams will be after is 6-foot-4 defenseman Connor Murphy.
NHL analyst Jeremy Tingly of NHLTradeRumors links the Blackhawks to trading away Murphy this season.
“Murphy is a right-handed defenceman who has been on trade lists for quite some time now. Murphy’s entering the final season of his deal at $4.4 million AAV. The 32-year-old has a 10-team no-trade clause, so he’ll have some say in the matter,” Tingly wrote.
“He’s been linked to the Maple Leafs, Oilers, Senators, and Canadiens in the past, so we’ll wait and see how things play out next season,” Tingly added. “Murphy scored 19 points in 68 games last season, and averaged 20:36 ice-time per game, including 2:17 shorthanded.”
Murphy would be highly sought after at the trade deadline and would get a good return. He’s in the final year of his four-year, $17.6 million deal.
Although Murphy is a good defenseman for the Blackhawks, it would be wise for Chicago to trade him at the deadline instead of risking him leaving in free agency for nothing.
Murphy recorded 2 goals and 17 assists for 19 points in 68 games last season with the Blackhawks.
Insider Says Blackhawks Have Shopped Murphy
Chicago trading Murphy wouldn’t be a surprise, as his name has come up in trade talks.
Murphy would be highly sought after, and his name even came up in trade talks last deadline. Meanwhile, NHL insider David Pagnotta named Murphy a trade candidate this summer.
“The Blackhawks looked to deal Murphy during the season. He’s battled injuries the last couple of seasons and is now in he final year of his contract. Teams looking to shore up their right side will come calling,” Pagnotta wrote.
Although Murphy hasn’t been traded yet, if Chicago is near the bottom of the standings as expected, he will likely be dealt by the trade deadline.
Blackhawks GM Excited for Next Steps
Chicago is in the midst of a rebuild, and the hope is that it is almost over.
The Blackhawks have a young team, and general manager Kyle Davidson says this year will be a big one for the rebuild to see where they are.
“We still have a veteran-laden roster. But there’s going to be a much larger contingent of young players that could be here for a very long time, breaking camp with us this year,” Davidson said. “That’s really exciting. I think that’s a display of progress on where we’ve been in the past. It’s a different look for this team and I think it’s an eye to where we’re headed. It’s just an exciting step we’ve taken that we haven’t necessarily been able to reasonably expect prior to this season.”
Davidson knows this year is important to take a step forward and prove they are closing in on being a contending team. But that likely won’t keep them from being sellers at the trade deadline.
Blackhawks Linked to Trading Away 6-Foot-4 Defenseman