Will the defense be better this year?

[MHO]

I don't know if it's Murphy love or just love that Murphy is more than the pylons out there that were playing 18 minutes a night at times last season

 

[Hawkaholic]

Murph was bad last year, his worst year as a Hawk for sure. Subtract that?

It's not a coincidence that before last year he always finished +20 over Seth Jones while not being an offensive driver himself. He's always been a beast at knocking guys off the puck which is what a Dman should be doing with proper coverage, not sure where you think he's someone prone to turnovers or losing board battles unless you're only playing johnny come lately. 23/24 was a bad go for him and he sat out half the season too. We'll see if he bounces back.

Definitely his worse season, but he's been on the decline for several seasons now, and isn't getting younger. Not to mention, he's always been overrated by some posters here. At his best he was a 4/5D man.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I can't think of too many NHL Defensemen around the League that would have found much success if 62.1 % of their even strength ice time came paired with one of Kevin Korchinski (32.4 %), Jarred Tinordi (15.3 %) or Isaak Phillips (14.4 %).

Any typical Middle-3 defenseman is going to struggle there.

 

[Muffinalt]

I just realized Brodie probably got that second year just in case of a possible Murphy trade.

 

[Mike C]

I can't think of too many NHL Defensemen around the League that would have found much success if 62.1 % of their even strength ice time came paired with one of Kevin Korchinski (32.4 %), Jarred Tinordi (15.3 %) or Isaak Phillips (14.4 %).

Any typical Middle-3 defenseman is going to struggle there.

Is Korchinski gonna make the team as a top 6?

 

[Mrfenn92]

Is Korchinski gonna make the team as a top 6?

No

 

[hawksfan50]

When the D adds Levshunov and EDM and Rinzel ...then no question it willbe greatly better..Means Barfy gotta be jettisoned ,Brodie and Martinez stop-gaps too.. too...Unfortunately $9.5 still will have copious years to ruin things..but at some pount,$9.5 or not,he cannot be anywhere near our PP..but Barfy goot go first ..question is...at TDL 2025 oor during summer 2025 ?

WITH RETENT,ION...

 

[Northernhawk]

The Murphy-Hjalmarsson trade worked out exactly as planned…

Hjalmarsson played ALOT OF HOCKEY and it showed as he ended up only playing another four seasons with Arizona(198 gp) and one playoff of 9 games in 2019-20

Murphy will be going into 8th season with Chicago(419 gp) and also with one playoff of 9 games in 2019-20

Hjalmarsson played 623 games with 23g and 120a for 144pts was a +109 with 238pim
Murphy has played 419 games with 28g and 64a for 92pts is a -31 with 292pim

It’s pretty safe to say that Murphy may have gotten more than Hjalmarsson would have provided

1042 games and counting between the two defencemen as Blackhawks, ranking them up there with Keith and Seabrook

 

[Cubs2024wildcard]

Getting Korchinski into the minors where he belongs is a huge W.

Getting an actual tough defenseman in Allan on the team is another huge W