For a team in a scorched-earth rebuild like the Blackhawks, one thing is certain: each offseason brings countless trades, moves, adjustments, and shifting lines. One can reasonably assume that the lineup we see in October will be almost unrecognizable when compared to the roster we see today. While no one, not even GM Kyle Davidson, can project what that group will look like with any semblance of accuracy, there are always players that seem like no-brainers to be moved.
One likely target for this summer is defenseman Connor Murphy. With the news of Jonathan Toews leaving the team, Murphy is now the longest-tenured Blackhawk. After four seasons with the Coyotes, he came to Chicago as part of a trade package that fetched Niklas Hjalmarsson in the summer of 2017.
This season, Murphy was a staple on the second defensive line, most recently paired with Wyatt Kaiser, just behind Caleb and Seth Jones. He logged 80 games for the team at the NHL level, tallying 13 points. His game is centered around his excellent positioning, as it seems as if he’s always in the right place wherever he’s needed. He isn’t perfect, but he plays smart and inserts himself into plays on the defensive end.
Age
While the Blackhawks aren’t exactly a team known for their on-ice talent at the moment, one exception to that rule is Connor Murphy. Due to his talent and situation, Chicago could get some real value for him and should consider dealing him. For starters, his age is certainly a contributing factor. At 30 years old, Murphy isn’t likely to be a part of Chicago’s next contender, which is probably still several years down the road. However, it’s clear that he hasn’t lost a step just yet, so he can still provide plenty of value to wherever he would be sent.
Contract
Additionally, Murphy is desirable for potential trade partners because of his contract. In the summer of 2021, he signed a four-year extension with the Blackhawks that began this past season. The deal carries an annual cap hit of $4.4 million, a very reasonable figure that should prove enticing for teams in need of a quality defenseman. That price will certainly be better than what those teams could find in free agency over the summer.
In the past few years, Blackhawks fans have seen their entire roster torn apart from free agency departures and trades. With Toews headed out the door, Connor Murphy now represents the only Blackhawk that was on the team in the 2010s, having come in 2017. With three years more tenure than anyone else on the roster, a trade of Connor Murphy would mark a truly fresh start for the franchise. Could Murphy join the likes of Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, Jake McCabe, and Sam Lafferty, as well as plenty more, in moving on to another team? While there’s no denying he’s a valuable asset for the Blackhawks, perhaps this asset could best be used as part of a trade.
