Central Division defenseman linked to Florida Panthers in trade rumors

On Monday, a rumor post flat-out declared the «Connor Murphy sweepstakes» open, and you can feel why it's catching fire. Chicago has a veteran right-shot defender who looks built for a contender's third pair.

Murphy is 32, he shoots right, and he was the 20th overall pick in 2011 by the Phoenix Coyotes. He's also sitting on a $4.4 million cap hit that runs through 2025-26, which matters for every serious buyer.

The production is modest, but that's not the selling point. Murphy has five points in 38 games this season, and he's the kind of pro coaches trust when the game gets messy.

If you've watched playoff hockey lately, you know why fans love this type of name, it's the guy who wins one wall battle that flips a whole period.

The funny part is the rumor map keeps shifting depending on who's summarizing whose intel. Some social chatter has tossed Nashville into the mix, but multiple roundups of the same «trade matchmaker» idea have Pierre LeBrun connecting Murphy to the Florida Panthers, while Chris Johnston flags the Vegas Golden Knights as a fit.

For Florida, the logic is simple, add a steady righty who can survive D-zone starts and keep the slot clean when the forecheck gets traded back and forth. For Vegas, it's about stabilizing the right side and letting their puck-movers play freer when the pressure ramps up.

There's also the human angle in Chicago, because Murphy has been part of the leadership group and has worn an «A» in recent seasons. When a rebuilding team has expiring veteran leaders, this is exactly the kind of name that starts popping up everywhere.

Nothing is done, and rumor season always runs hotter than reality, but this one passes the smell test. The next milestone is whether Chicago actually opens the door, or keeps its alternate captain to steady the kids through spring.