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Could the Red Wings land Connor Murphy with this trade pitch?
The Detroit Red Wings are undoubtedly a team to watch as we continue to inch closer to the 2026 NHL trade deadline. They are standing out as prime buyers, as they have been one of the NHL’s best teams so far this campaign. At the time of this writing, the Red Wings are sporting a 32-16-5 record and are second in the Atlantic Division standings.
With how well the Red Wings are performing, there is a very good chance that they will snap their nine-year playoff drought this season. Due to this, they should not be afraid to add to their roster as they look to cement themselves as true contenders. This is especially so when noting that they have just under $60 million of deadline cap space, as reported by PuckPedia.
With the Red Wings having a lot of money to work with, now is undoubtedly the time for them to add to their roster. One of their top trade deadline needs is a steady right-shot defenseman. When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, Chicago Blackhawks blueliner Connor Murphy stands out as a very good option for the Red Wings.
Due to this, we here at Heavy Sports have a trade pitch that has the Red Wings landing Murphy from the Blackhawks.
Red Wings Get:
Blackhawks Get:
- 2026 Second-Round Pick
- 2026 Sixth-Round Pick
Blackhawks’ Connor Murphy Is Among the NHL’s Top Trade Candidates
The Blackhawks are currently sixth in the Central Division standings with a 21-23-8 record. With this and the team still in a rebuild, there is an expectation that they will be sellers at the trade deadline. Due to this, Murphy, who is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), has been creating buzz as a trade candidate.
Murphy was recently included on NHL insider Chris Johnston’s latest trade board for The Athletic, landing the No. 13 spot.
“Big, strong and experienced, Murphy has posted strong defensive results under less-than-favorable conditions with the Blackhawks in recent years. The right shot comes with an expiring contract that should be fairly easy to move, particularly in light of how few options are likely to be available in free agency next summer,” Johnston said.
With Murphy expected to be moved, the Red Wings should certainly consider making a big push for him. He would give the Red Wings a steady and big veteran defenseman for their right side, which would be a good thing for a Detroit blueline that could use a boost.
Murphy Should Generate Plenty of Trade Interest
While the Red Wings certainly make sense as a potential suitor for Murphy, there is no question that they will have competition if they make a real push for him. He is exactly the kind of big stay-at-home defenseman that contenders love to target. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Dallas Stars are two teams that stand out as potential suitors.
Yet, if the Red Wings landed Murphy, he could be a perfect fit on their bottom pairing with Albert Johansson. Furthermore, due to his strong defensive play, he would give the Red Wings another solid option to work with on their penalty kill. With this in mind, Detroit would be wise to make a major push for Murphy this season.
Michael DeRosa Michael covers the NHL for Heavy.com. He has professionally covered the NHL since 2017 and has written for other publications like The Hockey News, BetMGM, Athlon Sports, and The Hockey Writers. More about Michael DeRosa
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