Photo credit: NHL.com
Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy was quoted as saying he wants to win, but Chicago is in a rebuild, so he may need to be traded to fulfill his wish.
But with all that wear and tear, never has he appeared in a legitimate Stanley Cup playoff contest. His nine games were during the empty-arena 2020 bubble, a playoff series with which he does not bother to tally in the count column.
He covets the real deal: playoff hockey with a jammed-in United Center crowd. Now 32 and in the last year of his contract, Murphy has come to realize his motivation has shifted.
He no longer chases the dream for himself alone. He wants it because he wants it for the city of Chicago, because he wants it for the organization, and the fans.
Splitting time in the playoffs during both the Kane-Toews era and the Bedard-Nazar era would be an interesting crossover in team history, something Murphy dearly would like to have.
“That’s what ate me up the most in the Winter Classic last year,” Murphy said. “We were having a losing season again, but we had this big stage to put on a show and maybe get a win and get the city’s camaraderie up a bit, and it just didn’t happen. That ate at me. Knowing the season’s going a certain way and you’re not going to be able to make the playoffs is one thing, but not even being able to put on a show for that one night was (tough).
“That’s what’s eaten at me the most – so many years of not being able to be that team, to be the ones everyone’s following and rooting for more than all the other teams.”
Many Teams May Come Calling for Connor Murphy’s Services Closer to the Trade Deadline
The scenario, then, becomes more nuanced. A veteran stay-at-home defenseman with a $4.4 million cap hit, Murphy is exactly the kind of grizzled playoff contender that franchises seek to bolster their ranks come trade deadline.
He knows he could well get traded, all while the Blackhawks find their strength again. Right now, he’s concerned with the here and now.
His leadership is invaluable to a young defense corps, and with a new staff with all eyes on him, there’s no time to speculate about what’s months away.
Murphy’s Chicago future remains to be seen, but dedication is certain. Should he get traded or experience that ultimate playoff moment while sporting a Blackhawks sweater, his reliability has already stamped an indelible mark.
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Blackhawks Defenseman ‘Wants to Win’: Is a Trade From Chicago Coming?
Will the Blackhawks trade Connor Murphy this season?