One of the biggest needs the Detroit Red Wings are hoping to fill at the trade deadline is for a top-four defenseman. Just about every candidate on the market has come up in trade talks with the Red Wings. 15 of the 50 available candidates on TSN's trade board are defensemen. Yesterday, however, that number went down as one of the most oft-named defensemen on the market bid farewell to his old team.
The Edmonton Oilers acquired defenseman Connor Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a 2028 second round pick. While there's a chance Murphy might not be the answer to Detroit's defensive depth, losing out on a defenseman in lieu of the deadline puts additional pressure on general manager Steve Yzerman to make a move.
How Connor Murphy would have helped the Red Wings
Murphy, 32, is known for his reliability in the defensive end. Over the last three seasons, he's compiled nearly 450 blocked shots with 433 in 194 games. A right-shot defenseman, Murphy spent his career with the Blackhawks stabilizing the penalty kill, helping the team achieve the best penalty kill in the league. The Red Wings, for reference, sit 20th in penalty kill rankings.
“I can’t say enough good things about Murph,” Blackhawks (and former Red Wings) coach Jeff Blashill said in a recent press conference. “He’s been great. He’s really done a good job of earning ice time on a consistent basis. He’s a huge reason why our kill has been really successful. He’s defended really well; he’s moved the puck well. He’s shown some scoring. He’s been physical, he’s fought. All those things are an important part of leadership.”
Red Wings still searching for perfect candidate
With Murphy out of the equation, the pressure is on for Yzerman to acquire a difference-maker. The Red Wings, per Darren Dreger, are actively pursuing Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers. Myers, 36, has one year left on his contract after the 2025-26 season making $3M per year. To make matters more complex, it appears Myers is waiting for other options to manifest themselves.
If the Red Wings hope to make a serious push for a top-four defenseman, the name they should target above all else is Justin Faulk. Faulk, like Myers, has one year left on his contract, though he comes in at a $6.5M cap hit. Having said that, Faulk has an advantage in both age and production. Faulk, while 33, has shown he's more than capable of taking on a top-four role. In 60 games with the Blues this season, Faulk has 32 points.
Still, if Faulk is who the Red Wings want, they'll need to act fast. James Murphy of RG Media believes the Boston Bruins are making Faulk their priority. Sooner or later, candidates like Faulk will be snatched away by rival teams if Yzerman doesn't act quickly. The Atlantic division is already extremely competitive. In order to stand out from the crowd, the Red Wings need to do everything in their power to acquire a difference-maker.