5 simple expectations for Blackhawks veteran defenseman Connor Murphy

The Chicago Blackhawks' defensive unit is going to be very young this season, but the baby blueliners will have a veteran to guide them.

Connor Murphy returns for his 13th NHL season and ninth with the Blackhawks.
The team is going to need him to share every ounce of experience he has with a group that has Alex Vlasic as the only other defenseman to skate in multiple full NHL seasons.

Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel, and Wyatt Kaiser are projected to make the team's Opening Night roster. Levshunov and Rinzel have combined to skate in 27 NHL games, and Kaiser has played in 98 NHL games. Vying for the final spot among the Blackhawks' defensive pairings will be youngsters Ethan Del Mastro, Kevin Korchinski, Nolan Allan, and Louis Crevier.

Korchinski is the only one in that group to have skated in a full NHL season. That was only because he proved at 18 that it was a waste of time to have him develop in the juniors, but he was still too young to play in the AHL. Therefore, he had to spend his rookie season on the NHL roster when it was clear he needed to play for the Rockford IceHogs.

Showing these young defenders the ropes in the NHL is one of the five expectations to have for Murphy this season.

A track record of leadership

Murphy has been an alternate captain since the 2020-21 season. This will not be Murphy's first rodeo playing alongside inexperienced teammates. He got some experience during the 2023-24 season mentoring young defenseman, especially in December 2023, when the blueline was riddled with injuries. Murphy was playing with an inexperienced Vlasic, Isaak Philips, Filip Roos, and Crevier.

While the Blackhawks did not win many games during that stretch, Vlasic and Crevier held their own. At least this time, he will have an entire training camp to help get these youngsters ready for the NHL grind.

Must prove he can stay on the ice to provide that leadership

Murphy has had trouble avoiding going on injured reserve during his time in Chicago. He has had just two seasons with the Blackhawks, where he has skated in over 75 games.

He missed 36 games during the 2023-24 season and 14 games last season. However, he did return in time to play on the blue line when the Blackhawks started playing Levshunov and Rinzel toward the end of the season.

The Blackhawks need Murphy to be healthy, not only for his leadership, but also because the team needs a crafty veteran who knows where to be on the ice in any situation.

Plus, Murphy is the most experienced defenseman on the penalty kill. The team cannot afford to be without his penalty kill experience, especially early in the season.

Create turnovers and win board battles

New head coach Jeff Blashill's 2-1-2 system likes the defenseman to create turnovers to start counterattacks. I am interested in seeing how Murphy adjusts to provide offensive support in that system.

He had 10 assists last season playing in former head coach Luke Richardson's 1-2-2 system. Murphy had two goals and seven assists once interim head coach Anders Sorenson switched to a 2-1-2 attack.

Blashill is also looking for this team to fight for the puck more on the backcheck and forecheck. That means winning those board battles and being willing to throw some hard checks. Murphy had a few highlight checks last season, and he had 165 hits in 80 games during the 2022-23 season. If he can rack up those numbers again, it should help the team adjust to Blashill's 2-1-2 system.

Help block shots and derail odd-man rushes

The downside of Blashill's aggressive approach is that it can lead to odd-man rushes going the other way. Murphy's willingness to lay out his body to help block shots will be important in keeping those counterattacks from turning into goals.

Murphy's 160 blocks last season were among the top 20 in the NHL. If he can duplicate that number, goalies Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom will certainly be appreciative.

Get traded by the trade deadline

Murphy was considered one of the few trade assets that general manager Kyle Davidson had to move at last season's trade deadline. Like every trade deadline before, Murphy remained on the roster.

He must be moved before this season's deadline because he is set for free agency next summer. With all the young talent the Blackhawks have, it is unlikely Davidson will be signing Murphy to an extension.

The hope is that he builds up his trade value to warrant a decent draft pick, and maybe the team will not have to retain any of his $4.4 million cap hit to get a solid return.