Although it’s still October, trade rumors are already emerging in the NHL, with the Chicago Blackhawks being frequently mentioned, which is intriguing. Recently, NHL insiders David Pagnotta and Elliotte Friedman reported that the Blackhawks are looking for a second-line center to enhance their roster.
During an appearance on the Oilers Now show with Bob Stauffer, Friedman discussed potential solutions for the struggling Edmonton Oilers. This conversation quickly turned to the need for improvement on their blue line, leading to the mention of Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy.
Friedman suggested that Connor Murphy might be a valuable option for teams, saying, “A guy who I think people would take a look at and think, ‘does this make sense at all?’ would be a guy like Connor Murphy.” He noted that several teams had shown interest in Murphy last season prior to his injury and emphasized that any trade would require convincing the Blackhawks to proceed.
At 31 years old, Murphy has two years left on his contract at a $4.4 million cap hit. He has played all ten games this season, averaging 18:08 minutes per game with four assists.
As of now, the Oilers have $1,296,267 in available cap space, but they will face further complications next season when Leon Draisaitl’s cap hit increases significantly.
Friedman’s repeated mention of Murphy raises questions about the Blackhawks’ blue line. Currently, Murphy and Seth Jones are the only two right-handed defensemen on the roster, making Murphy a valuable asset I’m hesitant to see traded.
If the Blackhawks are considering moving a veteran leader like Murphy, they might need to weigh their options carefully, particularly since they’ve been drafting well and will soon need to accommodate more players in their lineup.
Looking to fill the second-line center position may not yield fruitful trades with Edmonton, particularly given McDavid’s injury. Players like Adam Henrique and Derek Ryan don’t seem to fit the bill as suitable second-line centers for the Blackhawks.
The discussion of prospects like Matthew Savoie and Noah Philp highlights that there might not be immediate help on the way from the Oilers. Moreover, while there are intriguing prospects such as Beau Akey, it’s uncertain whether they would be of significant benefit to the Blackhawks considering their existing defensemen.
In conclusion, while it’s uncertain whether a trade is feasible, Friedman’s quick mention of Murphy indicates that this situation may be worth monitoring for any potential developments.
