Connor Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 28
Height: 6’4
Weight: 212 lbs
Shoots: Right
Cap Hit: $3,850,000 until 2022 / $4,400,000 until 2026
Contract: 10 team no-trade list starts 2022-23
Connor Murphy is a large physical defenseman that could make a huge impact on a good team and could become a fan favourite in Toronto. He currently leads the league in blocked shots, and he’s among the top 20 defensemen in hits.
He eats up first line minutes in Chicago and plays the right side, so he would make an amazing shutdown partner with Jake Muzzin or could hold the fort for Morgan Rielly on the top pairing.
The Chicago Blackhawks did just sign Murphy to an extension in the summer which starts next season, but the team seems ready to trade away anything that’s not nailed down. If they’re going for the hard rebuild they should, the time to trade Connor Murphy should be before his 10 team no-trade clause kicks in after this season.
Connor Murphy started his NHL career in Phoenix and joined Chicago after their Stanley Cup days, so he only has nine games of NHL playoff experience.