The Chicago Blackhawks sent in their third trade of the 2025-26 season by sending Connor Murphy to the Edmonton Oilers for a 2028 second-round pick. With the trade deadline approaching, many expected Murphy to be on the move if the Blackhawks were to see any movement. In the trade, the Blackhawks retain 50% of Murphy’s $4.4 million cap hit that expires at the end of the season.
Now that Connor Murphy is gone, what’s next for the Blackhawks leading up to the NHL Trade Deadline?
New Faces and New Roles
Murphy, previously the longest tenured player in the organization, proudly wore the ‘A’ starting in the 2021-22 season. Since his departure, Connor Bedard has taken over as an alternate captain.
With the extra roster spot, the Blackhawks called up Ethan Del Mastro from AHL affiliate Rockford Ice Hogs. The Blackhawks picked the 23-year-old defenseman in the fourth round of the 2021 draft. He has played 28 games in the NHL since.
In 45 games with Rockford this season, Del Mastro has posted two goals for 18 points and is a +1. With the youth movement almost in full effect, trading Murphy allowed the Blackhawks to activate a young, promising defenseman who has a similar play style to Murphy and projects to be of a similar caliber.
Which Other Blackhawks Could Be on the Move?
Nick Foligno
There is just one factor stopping the Blackhawks from trading Foligno, and that is his status as team captain and his clear impact on the young players in the locker room. Foligno is 38 years old and in the final year of his deal.
With 10 points in 33 games, trading Foligno would accomplish two things. For one, it would open a roster spot for players such as Nick Lardis or Anton Frondell to join the team for the final chapter of the campaign. Additionally, it would allow Foligno to go to a contending team and compete for a Stanley Cup, something he has yet to accomplish.
Trading for Foligno would be an interesting move, but a very low-risk one. He has been a part of multiple successful teams and in leadership positions for much of his career. His value is almost entirely tied up in his personality and experience. He has also played on Chicago’s penalty kill and power play, providing depth in those areas for teams in need of it.
A late-round draft pick would be a realistic return for the Blackhawks captain.
Bertuzzi has been playing his best season in a Blackhawk uniform and likely will end up having a career year. If the Blackhawks front office believes this production is sustainable, then they shouldn’t really bother listening to offers. Otherwise, a trade for Bertuzzi to a contender looking for power play and scoring depth is possible.
The 30-year-old winger made headlines early in the season for his ‘human backboard’ presence, primarily on the power play. He isn’t flashy, he isn’t the fastest, but he plays a hard game that has translated on the scoresheet. The largest barrier for trading Bert will be his contract.
He is currently in the year two of a four-year, $22 million contract at $5.5 million AAV. Salary retention is almost required in a trade for Bertuzzi. Even with that retention, Blackhawks fans shouldn’t expect much more than a second- to fourth-round pick. Maybe a mid-tier prospect could be included in the return.
Is Trading Connor Murphy the Final Move?
Ultimately, the Blackhawks front office would likely be okay with a stagnant deadline after trading Murphy. The team has shown improvement, Bedard is playing at a superstar level, and young players are blossoming left and right. On the other hand, there are players on the roster that may not be in the organization’s five-to-ten-year plan. Expect the Blackhawks to move those players in the event of any more movement out of the Windy City.