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Connor Murphy’s trade to the Edmonton Oilers may set the Toronto Maple Leafs price for Brandon Carlo.
The Edmonton Oilers acquisition of defenseman Connor Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks may establish a potential comparable for Leafs defenseman Brandon Carlo.
Murphy was traded from the Blackhawks to the Oilers in exchange for a 2028 second round pick, with Chicago retaining 50% of Murphy’s $4.4M salary, according to Mark Spector of Sportsnet.
Elliotte Friedman first reported talks between the two teams.
Murphy, 32, is a 6’4 right-handed defenseman who has spent nine seasons with the Blackhawks, with four goals, nine assists, & 13 points in 60 games this season for Chicago.
A defensive defenseman, Murphy helps the Oilers on the penalty kill, one of the lowest teams with a 76.9% success rate on the PK.
Connor Murphy’s deal could be a comparable for Brandon Carlo
With Connor Murphy headed off to the Edmonton Oilers, his deal could set the market for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Brandon Carlo.
Brandon Carlo now becomes one of the top RHD’s on the trade block, and although it takes a team like Edmonton, who had been looking at another Leafs D in Oliver Ekman-Larsson, it makes clear what Carlo’s price could be.
It’s unclear if the Leafs would retain on a deal for Carlo, although they have all three of their retention slots open. Carlo has two years remaining on a deal at $4.1M, with 50% retained could net a high pick for Carlo at $2-million.
The only uncertainty Toronto has is a lack of offense coming from Carlo. Although he is a defensive defenseman, his eight points in 57 games since being acquired by the Leafs may make his price closer to a third than a second, less than the first and Fraser Minten Toronto paid last season to acquire Carlo.
Still, Carlo is one of the few righties available, with the big fish in Dougie Hamilton unlikely now to move, the lack of depth could move Carlo’s value back to a second round pick for a team desperate for help on their right-side.
The Leafs, still fielding calls on Carlo and Ekman-Larsson, may have the affordability of the lack of defense in trade talks, but they may also want to work quick if the right offer comes into their laps.
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