It’s time for another round of NHL rumours. We’re awaiting the start of the Stanley Cup Final next week. However, we’re thinking about the other 30 teams that did not reach the Final. There are going to be plenty of questions asked of these clubs in the coming off-season. We could see some changes coming to a number of rosters.
One team could see some more retooling is the Chicago Blackhawks. This edition of NHL rumours deals with a defenceman that could be a trade target.
NHL Rumour
Chicago Blackhawks Could be a Trade Piece
Rumour: Frank Seravalli of The Daily Faceoff released his list of top 20 trade targets. Blackhakws defender Connor Murphy is in the eighth spot on the list.
Analysis: Murphy will be going into the final year of his contract that sees him making $4.4 million per season. The 32-year-old veteran is one of the more senior members of the Chicago roster. He is coming off season that saw him get 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) in 68 games this campaign.
One thing the Blackhawks have is a lot of defenceman on their roster. Alex Vlasic, Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov seem to be part of the future on the blueline for Chicago. Murphy seems like he could moved to allow the Blackhawks to get some more assets or some capital to address another need on the roster.
The $4.4 million cap hit doesn’t seem like a lot with the cap number going up. However, every little bit of space helps when trying to take the next step in a rebuild that Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson is undertaking.
Chicago is trying to harken back to the days when it was a Stanley Cup contender. However, it’s been a lean last few seasons. There are some talented young players on the roster, but this club needs to take the next step.
What it Means
Murphy could be part of the solution for a contending team’s blueline group. The Boston native may not put up a ton of points, but he is a very useful defenceman. He is a physical defender and can give a defensive group some much-needed muscle.
Murphy’s contract seems like one that’s easily digestible for any general manager of a contending team. The deal is one where there’s little term as well. This could line up to make the perfect rental situation for a team that wants to take a chance.
Chicago also holds the number three pick in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft. The Blackhawks could be tempted to draft Matthew Schaefer should he fall to the third spot in the draft. Chicago does have a plethora of bluelienrs, but Davidson may decide that the prospect is too good to pass on.
If a deal doesn’t materialize in the off-season, it’s likely that Murphy gets traded around the 2026 NHL trade deadline. The Blackhawks don’t have the makings of a contender at this point. Things could change, but the chatter surrounding Murphy could fire back up in February or March of 2026.
