If the Detroit Red Wings want to return to the playoffs this season, strengthening their blue line is a must. According to a recent ranking by The Athletic, Detroit’s defensive depth was ranked 27th out of 32 NHL teams — a clear sign that General Manager Steve Yzerman has some serious offseason work ahead.
One potential solution could come from a familiar rival.
Heavy.com suggested a trade scenario in which the Chicago Blackhawks send veteran defenseman Connor Murphy to Detroit in exchange for a 2026 second-round draft pick:
Trade Proposal:
To Red Wings: Connor Murphy
To Blackhawks: 2026 2nd-round pick
The Blackhawks, in the midst of a full rebuild, have young defensive prospects like Artem Levshunov and Sam Rinzel vying for NHL roles. Moving Murphy would clear space for their development while netting Chicago a valuable future asset. Meanwhile, Detroit would gain a dependable, experienced blueliner.
Murphy, 32, is entering the final year of his deal at a $4.4 million cap hit. He’s spent the last eight seasons solidifying Chicago’s second defensive pair. With his mobility and ability to play in various situations, he could help address Detroit’s defensive shortcomings — especially their 3.16 goals-against average per game last season.
Yzerman Still Hunting for a Top-Four Defenseman
Yzerman has openly acknowledged his team’s need for another top-four defenseman. In a press conference following free agency, he said:
“We have plenty of cap space to do a lot of different things… What we could use right now is a [top-four] defenseman… It doesn’t have to be a right shot because we can move these guys around a little bit.”
That said, Murphy is a right-shot defenseman, which would complement Detroit’s current group that includes Moritz Seider, Jacob Bernard-Docker, and Justin Holl. Adding another right-shot option could give the team greater lineup flexibility.
Plenty of Draft Capital for Both Sides
Detroit has a deep pool of prospects and draft picks, giving them the tools to be aggressive in the trade market. The Red Wings still hold all their 2026 draft picks, plus an extra seventh-rounder from Calgary. After narrowly missing the playoffs by a single point two seasons ago, the team is aiming to finally end a nine-year postseason drought.
As for Chicago, General Manager Kyle Davidson is taking a long-term view.
“When we set out to build this thing back up, we needed to build through the draft and find our new core,” Davidson said. “That takes time… It may not result in more wins right now, but we’re seeing growth beneath the surface.”
In short, a deal involving Murphy could serve both clubs well — Detroit gets a key defensive piece, and Chicago continues to stockpile assets for the future.
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