Carolina Hurricanes Trades: Breaking Down Trading Ryan Murphy
With Ryan Murphy rumored to be on the trade block. Who would want him and what would his return be?
Due to the Carolina Hurricanes large depth on defense, Ryan Murphy finds himself the odd man out. Derren Dreger reported on the rumors in the middle of last month. Still, though, with Ryan Murphy’s “conditioning” stint down in the AHL, his time in Carolina seems close to an end. Francis loathes to move pieces without getting what he feels is fair in return which begs the question: what is Ryan Murphy’s exact value on the trade market?
Ryan Murphy’s Play as a Defender
Murphy played unevenly this year in the four games he started. Some he looked good in and some he looked not so good. In terms of his stats though he played solidly. Above 50% Corsi and xGF%; however, his GF% was a measly 14.17% and his Relative CF% a -6.53. Again those stats fall victim to the small sample size caveat, and in the years before he posted decent, if not amazing, Corsi stats as well. And even his biggest detractors can’t deny his skating and puck moving/handling ability despite what they may claim are his defensive liabilities. In addition, Ryan Murphy is a right-shooting defenseman. Given the NHL’s large shortage of this type of defenseman, this gives Murphy additional value to go along with his offensive skills
Who Would Want Him?
There are few teams that have such large issues on defense that a player like Ryan Murphy would be a boost. The first team that comes to mind is the New York Rangers. Their defense is a mess glossed over by high shooting percentages and good goaltending. Just look at how the Hurricanes manhandled them for five periods in their last two games. First in the Metropolitan, the Rangers consider themselves contenders for the Stanley Cup but not with players like Dan Girardi playing large minutes. Yes even as mediocre as Ryan Murphy is he is still an upgrade on Dan Girardi
Another team that comes to mind is the Columbus Blue Jackets. Finding themselves in a playoff spot for the first time since 2014, the Blue Jackets have exceeded their preseason expectations. Like the Rangers, they also could use a lot of help in the bottom of their defense. Jack Johnson, their “anchor” on defense” plays like an overpaid sieve on the backend just like Girardi. Again Murphy would be a definite upgrade over someone who plays regular minutes in the Jackets’ lineup
The third team that might be a good fit for Murphy could be the Dallas Stars. It’s no secret that the loss of Jason Demers and Alex Goligoski to free agency affect the team. (Not Kris Russell though because he sucks). Not sure if Murphy would be an upgrade, but his skills in Lindy Ruff’s up-tempo offense could be a good fit.
So What Can the Carolina Hurricanes Get For Him?
Most likely the Canes will want draft picks for Murphy to keep the rebuilding process well stocked. Dreger reported that Carolina might have been trying to upgrade the blueline. That need seems not as important since the call up of Matt Tennyson for the number six spot. If Francis gets offered a third rounder it most likely will be a good trade, but given Murphy’s status as unwanted in Carolina, his leverage may not be all that great forcing him to accept a fourth or even fifth. However, with Murphy under contract for next year, the Hurricanes can afford to wait until the deal they like comes along
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