The Quinn Hughes saga was an emotional roller coaster for Red Wings fans. Just when it seemed Detroit was the favorite to land his services, the Minnesota Wild came out of nowhere with their blockbuster offer that included the highly-touted Zeev Buium.
Regardless if you believe the Wings should have given up a player like Simon Edvinsson along with prospects and picks, or think that the team was smart to stand pat, everyone is at least a little disappointed to not see Hughes in the Winged Wheel.
Thankfully, there are other defensemen becoming available as the Mar. 6 trade deadline slowly approaches. There may not be another Hughes on the market, but there are quality players who can address the Wings defensive depth concerns.
One such player is the Chicago Blackhawks’ Connor Murphy, who Michael DeRosa of The Hockey News has linked to Detroit.
Chicago’s recent skid makes them clear sellers on the trade market
With limited preseason expectations, the Blackhawks were one of the early season surprises in the NHL. They had an 11-9-5 record through November and were in the thick of the playoff hunt. Connor Bedard also looks to have officially ascended to superstardom, tied for sixth in the league in scoring with 44 points.
Unfortunately, December has not been as kind. Chicago is 2-5-1 this month and Bedard was recently placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. He will be out until at least January.
Because of their strong start, the Blackhawks are still just five points out of a playoff spot. However, their recent trend, along with the Bedard injury and them not being serious contenders, makes them a prime candidate to sell at the trade deadline.
Assuming they choose to deal some of their veterans and expiring contracts, Murphy is all but guaranteed to be moved. This is the 32-year-old’s ninth season in Chicago and he is slated to be an unrestricted free agent (UFA) this offseason.
What would Connor Murphy bring to the Red Wings?
Let’s start with the negatives. Murphy is not known for his offense. His career-high in points is 19, which he reached in 2019-20 and 2024-25. So far this season, he has just three points in 33 games.
On the bright side, Murphy is about as stable as they come defensively. He may be older and spends most of his time on the third pairing, but he is responsible in his own zone and can still shut down the opposition. He is also a strong asset to the penalty kill.
Additionally, he has been applauded for his mentorship and leadership during the darkest days of the Chicago rebuild.
If the Wings were to trade for Murphy, there is a lot to like. His cost would be minimal, likely nothing more than a low draft pick and/or a mid-level prospect.
Murphy’s presence stabilizes Detroit’s third pairing defensively, one of the team’s largest concerns. Albert Johansson, Jacob Bernard-Docker, Travis Hamonic, and Erik Gustafsson have played poorly more times than not this year, most notably in their own end.
The mentorship of Murphy could also benefit a relatively young Detroit team, especially if he ends up paired with Johansson on the third line.
Between Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson, and Axel Sandin-Pellikka, the Wings have enough offensive potential on their backend, so the defense-first mindset of Murphy slides in nicely.
Murphy will by no means have the same impact that Hughes could have had in Detroit, but he is a solid veteran who will not cost much and will fill a glaring hole on defense. The Wings should make this move, supposing Murphy becomes available.