Blackhawks Defensive Depth Takes Significant Hit Following a 2-Player Move Involving Connor Murphy

Laurent Brossoit, a Stanley Cup Champion goaltender who was signed by Kyle Davidson this off-season has yet to play a game due to an injury suffers in 'summer trading', but many believe the Blackhawks acquired him while knowing he was banged up.

Alec Martinez, one of the oldest NHL defenseman in the league at age 37, has only played sixteen games this season due to a 'neck injury', that he tweaked during the Winter Classic.

And then there's longtime Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy, 31, who suffered a groin injury at the Winter Classic as well; and has not laced up the skates since.

Prior to the Blackhawks Blackhawks 3-4 Blackhawks 3-4 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday , the Blackhawks completed a two-player move involving the veteran defenseman.

The Blackhawks are swapping a pair of defensemen, moving Connor Murphy to the injury reserve list, while removing Alec Martinez off of it and activating him.

Martinez' first game back with the Blackhawks was quite rough, after blowing a 2-0 lead on Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, Martinez was on the ice for the Oilers' game winning goal to make it 4-3.

The 37-year old defenseman has had plenty of injury reserve since coming in the league as a 22-year old, in what would be a 1200+ game career within his 15 years in the NHL, and 82 games a season, has been shorted by a whopping 400 games at 834.

On the flip side, once Connor Murphy returns, he will be in search to reach his career-high in points, which is 19, from the 2019-20 season (already at 13).

With another two-player injury move for the Blackhawks, general manager Kyle Davidson may want to do some more research of who he's signing in the 2024-25 NHL off-season.