Introduction to Connor Murphy’s Situation
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — When the Blackhawks made their first-ever trip to Seattle in November 2021, veteran defenseman Connor Murphy logged a hefty 22:30 of ice time. That was one of 33 games during the 2021-22 season in which Murphy, who had just signed a four-year extension the previous summer, exceeded the 22-minute mark.
Current State of Affairs
Fast-forward four years, however, and Murphy now finds himself in a very different position within the Hawks’ depth chart — even as the team’s longest-tenured player. The 32-year-old defenseman played only 8:30 in the Hawks’ loss in Seattle on Monday, the lowest ice time of his career in any game in which he didn’t get injured. He received only three shifts in the third period. Over the Hawks’ last five games, he has averaged barely 12 minutes — a dramatic decrease in workload since last season, when he averaged more than 20 minutes when healthy.
Murphy’s Perspective
As an alternate captain and generally selfless guy, Murphy struck an amicable tone when asked about the subject Sunday, but it’s clear he’s not thrilled. “Every player wants to play more, obviously, so I don’t think anyone would be happy with having less minutes,” Murphy said. “But I understand there are decisions. Part of it is I think all of our ‘D’ are playing really well, so it’s not something that I can argue against in any way. When you’re given your opportunities and shifts, [I’m] trying to make the most of them and still have an effect on the game.”
Health and Performance Issues
Murphy’s groin condition, osteitis pubis, has sidelined him for significant portions of each of the last two seasons, but he insisted it’s not inhibiting him right now. He’s thankful for that, since it did hurt throughout much of the summer. His lack of quickness and agility at this age makes him an imperfect fit in coach Jeff Blashill’s aggressive systems, though, and he’s struggling as a result. The Hawks have been outscored 5-2 with an ugly 38.9% scoring-chance ratio during his five-on-five ice time.
Coaching Perspective
Blashill and Murphy did “talk a little bit” about the situation before the Kraken game, Blashill said. “Connor has been a good player for us, and Connor is a leader for us,” Blashill added. “Some nights he’s going to play more than others. That’s the reality of where our situation is. Some nights, certain guys are playing really good hockey, and they’ll get more minutes — that’s why we’re dressing seven [defensemen]. Some nights, they’re not, and Connor gets more minutes.”
The Bigger Picture
The seven-defensemen lineups certainly are a factor, but Murphy has notably played the least of the seven defensemen in three straight games. Louis Crevier and fellow veteran Matt Grzelcyk have surpassed him in the pecking order. Rookie Artyom Levshunov’s steady improvement is relevant, too. The seven-defensemen lineups were instituted in part to shelter him, but as he improves his decision-making and learns how to succeed against NHL competition, they become less necessary. Levshunov recorded an assist in three straight games before Monday, then played a season-high 19:09 in Seattle as the Hawks generated a 16-5 advantage in scoring chances during his ice time. He’s on a promising track.
Future Implications
So what will the Hawks do with Murphy moving forward? In the short term, Blashill has a tricky situation on his hands. Long-term, it seems increasingly likely this will be Murphy’s final season in Chicago. His contract is set to expire, and it’s possible he could be shopped before the March 6 trade deadline if he stays healthy and retains some value. The Hawks’ defensive youth movement has reached the cusp of a full takeover, and it might soon push out the last member of the old guard.
Recent Games and Performances
The Hawks weren’t able to penetrate a tough defense in a 3-1 defeat Monday that kept them winless on the road trip. With nine points in nine games for Rockford, Oliver Moore earned a call-up. He made his Hawks season debut Monday against the Kraken.
Images from Recent Games
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