SerpApi.Org
A few years back, we endeavored to put some trade forensics to work to see how convoluted trades in the history of the Blackhawks tie the distant past to the present and the future.
As the Blackhawks move into the next generation of the franchise, and while we wait for training camp to open in September, we’re going to run it back and look at some of the ways trades tie together eras of hockey in Chicago.
Today, we’re going to start with a trade tree that begins with one of the most fabulously orchestrated draft moves in NHL history in 1999, and runs us all the way up to a pick in the 2028 NHL Draft.
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re calling this the Connor Murphy Trade Tree.
Connor Murphy Blackhawks Trade Tree
・June 26, 1999 — the Blackhawks acquired defenseman Bryan McCabe from the Vancouver Canucks for their first round pick in the 1999 NHL Draft, (No. 4 – forward Pavel Brendl).
This trade was part of a complicated scheme put in motion by then-Canucks GM Brian Burke to get both Henrik and Daniel Sedin to Vancouver. McCabe appeared in 79 games for the Blackhawks in the 1999-2000 season. Brendl appeared in 78 career regular-season NHL games.
・Oct. 2, 2000 — the Blackhawks traded McCabe to the Toronto Maple Leafs for defenseman Alexander Karpovtsev and a fourth-round pick in the 2001 draft (No. 115 – defenseman Vladimir Gusev).
Gusev never appeared in an NHL game. You may remember Karpovtsev was the focus of a legendary rant by Pat Foley when he was dealt.
・March 9, 2004 — the Blackhawks traded Karpovtsev to the New York Islanders for a fourth-round pick in the 2005 NHL Draft (No. 108 – defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson).
Hjalmarsson spent ten years with the Blackhawks and was a key piece of their three championship seasons. He is one of the most under appreciated defensemen in Blackhawks history. Indeed, Chicago wouldn’t have three banners at the United Center without the contributions of Hjalmarsson.
・June 23, 2017 — the Blackhawks traded Hjalmarsson to Arizona for forward Laurent Dauphin and defenseman Connor Murphy. Dauphin never appeared in a game for the Blackhawks after he was acquired with Murphy.
Murphy spent nine years with the Blackhawks, appearing in 547 regular-season games. He arrived at a time when the Hawks were trying to reload, and ultimately was a leader in the room thru the rebuild. Only 11 defensemen in franchise history appeared in more regular-season games than Murphy, a list that includes Hjalmarsson (623), four Hall of Famers (Duncan Keith, Doug Wilson, Pierre Pilote, Chris Chelios) and two players whose numbers have been retired (Chelios, Keith Magnuson).
・March 2, 2026 — the Blackhawks traded Murphy to the Edmonton Oilers for a second-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft.
