The 2025 trade deadline is almost here and the Chicago Blackhawks still have work to do. After already making a couple of good trades, there are a handful more players that could easily still be moved.
There are the more obvious potential trade candidates like Ryan Donato, Petr Mrazek, and Pat Maroon, but with the attention on them and what the Blackhawks might be able to get for them in trades, some others haven’t been talked about as much as they should.
There are three underrated Blackhawks that could be traded this season, which includes Connor Murphy, Lukas Reichel, and Philipp Kurashev.
Connor Murphy
Murphy is a solid second pairing, fourth defenseman on most teams, but on a contender, could thrive even more as a bottom pairing d-man that specializes in locking down certain players/lines and killing penalties.
The veteran has over 110 minutes shorthanded this season and averages 20:49 of ice time per game. He has contributed a goal and 16 points in 49 games, but where his real work comes in is through his 121 blocked shots and 84 hits. He has a 10-team no-trade list and the 31-year-old is signed through next season at $4.4 million.
What’s important here is that the Blackhawks can’t retain, but an injury to a top-4 d-man on a contending team could spark interest. For a fringe playoff team or non-playoff contender, the year left on Murphy’s deal could be intriguing to help set up the d-core for next season.
Lukas Reichel
Despite a career high in points by Reichel through 53 games, he has not been utilized properly, which causes me to think that another team would love to give the 22-year-old a chance higher in the lineup than the fourth line and a better opportunity than with two 35+ year old players.
The former 17th overall pick from the 2020 draft has seen his ice time drop from an average of 16:22 in 2022-23 to 14:07 last season, and just 12:13 this season. He has six goals and 19 points while he has been stuck at the bottom of the 31st place team’s lineup.
Reichel is signed through next season at just $1.2 million AAV and is a RFA after his contract is up. The Blackhawks should not be in the business of moving away more first round picks without giving them a real chance. This is a young team that needs talent like Reichel’s to be given the chance and step up. Chicago needs players who can contribute right now, not future assets anymore. They have enough. I trust Kyle Davidson will make the right choice, but there has been some interest and you never know.
Philip Kurashev
Philipp Kurashev has had a season to forget, but despite scoring two goals in his previous three games, he has been a healthy scratch since Feb. 27. There is no way he is playing on the Blackhawks next season, but Davidson likely also realizes that his trade value is very low and the team isn’t even trying to showcase him.
Kurashev has a cap hit of $2.25 million AAV, so it isn’t too bad for a team to just take a chance on for depth and to see if he can contribute in a different environment. As I said, the cost to acquire him will be very low and the 25-year-old is still a RFA after the season. It’s not a big deal for Chicago if he isn’t traded, but he could be rather unexpectedly.
Kurashev is the only player I’d actually like to see moved here. The Blackhawks still need a veteran defenseman in the lineup and Murphy will be much more impactful next season than Alec Martinez (UFA) and T.J. Brodie. Reichel needs more of an opportunity, so he should get that moving forward. A chance of scenery is needed for Kurashev, so Chicago should give him that if they can. They’ll lose him for nothing in the offseason anyways.
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