Photo credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy is being actively pursued by teams as a trade target, according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman.
Despite their inconsistent start to the season, the Chicago Blackhawks showed promise by defeating the Colorado Avalanche, one of the more formidable teams in the Western Conference. However, since the season is still young, it is too soon to start worrying or making significant changes. The group is still optimistic that as they continue to synchronize and establish their rhythm, this initial effort will result in more reliable performances.
Because of this, it seems a little too soon to trade a key defender to the Blackhawks. They aren't currently giving it much thought, even though it would obviously drastically alter their lineup. Nevertheless, some insiders believe the Blackhawks will be open to trading a few players in the correct situation, so here are some trade rumors.
According to early-season rumors, the Oilers are looking for a right-handed defenseman with experience, and Murphy's name has surfaced as someone who could support the team's back end. This is particularly true now that Connor McDavid's injury has cost the Oilers a lot of scoring power for the upcoming games.
"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," Friedman revealed to the host. "Last year, there were a lot of teams that were interested in Murphy."
"Number one, can you make a deal? Number two, can you fit it in?" Friedman pondered. "They know that they have a player there who was wanted last year before he got hurt. They don't have to (do it).
Edmonton management is undoubtedly searching for additional pieces for their defense, even though this rumor appears to be purely speculative at this time. As teams try to find the defensive gaps they need to fill before the season ends, the rumors about Connor Murphy will probably pick up steam with every game that goes by and every in-depth analysis. Murphy is a good physical defender, and the Oilers would welcome him if they could work their cap around him.