Earlier today it was reported that the Blackhawks were looking to make a splash today and acquire a high first-round draft pick. Instead, their first move of the day was trading defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson to Arizona.
The Blackhawks will get defensemen Connor Murphy and Laurent Dauphin in exchange. Murphy, a 24 year old former first round pick is coming off his fourth NHL season and is the son of Philadelphia Flyers coach Gord Murphy.
This is a very surprising move because Hjalmarsson has one of the best value contracts in the league and they did not acquire any draft picks. The move also saves the cap-strapped Blackhawks very little money and replaces a veteran with inexperience.
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Full press release: https://t.co/6SYYxiXQ2T
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 23, 2017
