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Blackhawks Activate Connor Murphy From Injured Reserve

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The Blackhawks announced today they’ve taken defenseman Connor Murphy off injured reserve ahead of Friday’s matchup with the Predators. He’ll return after missing 34 games with a groin injury, which he said last week was osteitis pubis, a type of chronic inflammation.

Healthcare providers term osteitis pubis a rare cause of inflammation in the groin and hip area, but Murphy isn’t the only NHLer dealing with it this season. Sharks captain Logan Couture’s season ended because of it at the All-Star break after only six appearances. While rare, sports injuries are its most common cause due to repetitive strain on groin and hip joints, muscles and tissues, per the Cleveland Clinic.

Murphy, 31, is no stranger to injuries. Before skating in 80 games last season, Murphy missed over 10% of the season in four straight seasons in Chicago from 2019 to 2022. He’s in his seventh season with the Blackhawks, who acquired him and minor league forward Laurent Dauphin from the Coyotes in 2017 in exchange for declining premier shutdown defender Niklas Hjalmarsson.

The 2011 first-round pick has since become a steady presence on the Chicago blue line, sneaking into a consistent top-four role after being buried in bottom-pairing minutes in his first season with the club. He’s failed to control possession quality at even strength through much of his time in the Windy City but has often been tasked with taking on the most difficult defensive assignments, making nearly 60% of his zone starts in the defensive zone.

Murphy hasn’t played in nearly three months, last suiting up against the Stars in a 3-1 loss on Jan. 13. In 43 games before the injury, he notched two goals, six assists, eight points, a -19 rating, and 40 PIMs while averaging 19:51 per game. His core possession metrics, a 44.4 CF% and a 44.1 xGF% are up from last season by multiple percentage points. Despite the lengthy absence, he still ranks third on the Hawks with 105 blocked shots and sixth with 106 hits.

He may not be 100% recovered, but getting into game action to close out the season should help him and the Blackhawks assess his recovery and his ability to manage the inflammation. If necessary, surgery can address the issue.

The Blackhawks made a corresponding transaction earlier this week by assigning defenseman Wyatt Kaiser to AHL Rockford. After recalling rookie Ethan Del Mastro from Rockford earlier today, they now have eight defensemen on the roster.

Murphy, an alternate captain, is signed through 2026 at a $4.4MM cap hit. His four-year extension, signed in August 2021, includes a 10-team no-trade list. He and Seth Jones are the only Chicago blueliners signed to one-way deals next season.

Blackhawks Recall Ethan Del Mastro

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The Chicago Blackhawks have recalled defense prospect Ethan Del Mastro from the minor leagues (Twitter link). This is the first call-up of Del Mastro’s career, after playing through his rookie AHL season this year. He’s recorded seven goals and 37 points in 66 games with the Rockford IceHogs, leading the team’s defensemen in scoring.

The Hawks selected Del Mastro in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, selecting him with a pick acquired when Chicago sent Madison Bowey and a 2021 fifth-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks. Del Mastro returned to the OHL for each of the last two seasons, recording 100 points across 120 games. Scoring was never his forte – with Del Mastro’s draft-year hype instead coming from his stout defense – though his 59 points in 52 OHL games last season and his strong minor league scoring this year are certainly starting to flip that narrative.

Del Mastro, 21, will join a very talented, and very young, Chicago blue-line that has also featured Alex Vlasic, Kevin Korchinski, Isaak Phillips, Louis Crevier, and Wyatt Kaiser – all U22 defensemen. The latter three names are currently on the Rockford roster, and the former two likely won’t face competition from Del Mastro. He’ll instead challenge veteran fill-ins like Jarred Tinordi or Jaycob Megna. Neither veteran has recorded a goal this season – instead boasting nine assists and two assists respectively.

Blackhawks Loan Paul Ludwinski To Rockford

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The Edmonton Oilers are without the services of superstar center Connor McDavid this evening as they take on the Vegas Golden Knights. McDavid was called a game-time decision by head coach Kris Knoblauch earlier today but ultimately missed tonight’s game after suffering a lower-body injury Saturday against the Calgary Flames.

McDavid needs just one assist to reach 100 on the season and would become just the fourth player to ever tally 100 assists in a season alongside Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr and Mario Lemieux. The 27-year-old has 31 goals to go along with his 99 helpers in 74 games this season as he and the Oilers sit second in the Pacific Division behind the Vancouver Canucks.

In other Western Conference notes:

  • Vegas Golden Knights forward Chandler Stephenson didn’t dress tonight against the Oilers for personal reasons. The 29-year-old is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and has seen his numbers dip this season from a career high 65 points last year. In 73 games, Stephenson has 16 goals and 31 assists and a -11 plus/minus. Recent callup Brendan Brisson replaced Stephenson in the Golden Knights lineup.
  • The Chicago Blackhawks have loaned forward Paul Ludwinski to the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. The 19-year-old was assigned to Rockford last year as well but didn’t appear in any games. A native of Toronto, Ontario, Ludwinski was selected in the second round of the 2022 NHL entry draft by Chicago and appeared in 60 games this season for the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League. He set career highs in most offensive categories as he tallied 23 goals and 46 assists and added six points in five playoff games.

Evening Notes: Tortorella, Fantilli, Jones, Vlasic

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Despite their recent collapse, it doesn’t appear as though the Philadelphia Flyers are planning to make a coaching change to replace John Tortorella anytime soon. This news comes from TSN’s Darren Dreger who reports that Flyers sources have told him that “Torts is not leaving the bench.” The speculation around Tortorella’s job security makes sense given that the team is mired in a 1-6-3 streak in their last ten and are currently chasing a playoff spot after sitting comfortably in third place in the Metropolitan Division just a few short weeks ago.

The Flyers are winless in eight straight games and have looked lost the last month, particularly in their last three games where they have been outscored 19-7 by the Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens. Last night’s 9-3 loss to Montreal was particularly difficult to watch as the Canadiens dominated the Flyers from start to finish which further added to speculation about Tortorella’s future.

In other evening notes:

  • Aaron Portzline of The Athletic is reporting that Columbus Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli won’t play again this season after suffering a lacerated calf against the Seattle Kraken back on January 28th. While that news isn’t overly surprising given that there are just a handful of games left on the NHL schedule, what is surprising to hear is that the 19-year-old rookie might play for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championships if he is healthy a month from now. Fantilli played for Team Canada last year at the tournament and could return on May 10th if he is at 100 percent. Last year’s third-overall pick will finish his first NHL regular season with 12 goals and 15 assists in 49 games.
  • Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Chicago Blackhawks defensemen Seth Jones and Alex Vlasic will suit up for Team U.S.A. at the IIHF World Championships. The 22-year-old Vlasic hasn’t represented the United States internationally for over five years, last suiting up for the Americans at the U18 World Championship in 2018-19. Jones last suited up internationally two years ago at the World Championships when he captained the Americans to a fourth-place finish.

Blackhawks To Keep Pick From Pitlick Trade

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Tampa Bay Lightning reporter Chris Krenn tweeted that Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev skated today in a non-contact jersey but added that head coach Jon Cooper cautioned people to not expect him to return for the first round of the playoffs. Cooper said that if the Lightning were to make it deep in the playoffs, he could return to the lineup, but he was happy to have him skating with the group.

The 25-year-old has played just once since December 19th and has been out of the lineup since fracturing his tibia and fibula back on February 7th in his first game back after suffering a foot injury that kept him out of the lineup for nearly two months.

In 34 games this season, Sergachev has recorded two goals and 17 assists but is a -16.

In other evening notes:

  • Ben Pope of The Chicago Sun-Times tweeted that the conditional 2026 seventh-round pick that the Chicago Blackhawks sent to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for depth forward Rem Pitlick carried the condition of Pitlick playing 30 NHL games and will not be sent to the Penguins. Pitlick has only dressed in nine games for Chicago, meaning the Blackhawks will keep their pick for the 2026 draft. The Penguins were likely okay with losing Pitlick for nothing as he was collecting a $1.1MM salary while playing for their AHL affiliate.
  • Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now is reporting that the Colorado Avalanche will be without forwards Miles Wood and Mikko Rantanen for tomorrow night’s game against Minnesota. Wood will miss his second consecutive game with a lower-body injury and is mired in a 23-game goalless drought. In his first season with Colorado the 28-year-old has nine goals and 15 assists in 72 games. Rantanen on the other hand may skate with the team in the morning but will not play. He is reportedly feeling better after being in concussion protocol and missing last night’s game as well. Rantanen has topped 100 points for the second consecutive season as he has 40 goals and 62 assists in 77 games this season.

Blackhawks Reassign Wyatt Kaiser

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The Blackhawks have assigned defenseman Wyatt Kaiser to AHL Rockford, Mario Tirabassi of CHGO Sports reports Monday. This leaves the Blackhawks with only six healthy defenders, suggesting Connor Murphy may be ready to come off injured reserve before Wednesday’s game against the Blues.

Kaiser, 21, has looked promising when given NHL minutes this season. He’s goalless through 32 games but has seven assists, 46 blocks, and only slightly below-average possession metrics on a badly understaffed Chicago blue line. The Minnesota native has largely been limited to bottom-pairing minutes, averaging 17:19 on the season, but had seen over 20 minutes of ice time in three of his last five outings.

He made the team out of camp but was assigned to Rockford in early December, where he remained for most of the season aside from a brief emergency loan later that month. Chicago brought him back a few weeks ago, playing him in each of their last nine games. The left-shot defender has been decent on the farm, where he has three goals and 15 points in 31 games.

A strong skater and good outlet passer, he’s done enough to put himself in consideration for an opening-night job again this fall. He has one season left on his entry-level contract, which carries a $917K cap hit, and will be an RFA in 2025.

Murphy looks to return after missing the last two and a half months with osteitis pubis, the same inflammatory groin issue that sidelined Sharks captain Logan Couture for all but six games this season. The 31-year-old told NBC Sports Chicago’s Charlie Roumeliotis last week that being “a part of the solution” has pushed him to close out the season back in the lineup. The veteran shutdown man complemented his eight points in 43 games with some of the team’s better possession numbers prior to exiting the lineup in January, posting a 44.4 CF% and -7.4 expected rating.

Blackhawks Notes: Murphy, Johnson, Veterans

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The Blackhawks have been without blueliner Connor Murphy for nearly three months with an undisclosed lower-body injury.  Speaking with reporters today including Charlie Roumeliotis of NBC Sports Chicago, the veteran indicated he was dealing with an osteitis pubis injury, the same issue that has sidelined San Jose’s Logan Couture for most of the season albeit a less severe case.  Murphy took part in a full practice today and is targeting a return sometime next week.  While there isn’t anything left for Chicago to play for in the standings, getting a few games under his belt before the campaign comes to an end would certainly be worth it for Murphy to confirm that he had indeed fully recovered from this issue.

More from Chicago:

  • Blackhawks forward Reese Johnson suffered a setback as he works his way back from a concussion, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times notes. The 25-year-old has missed nearly four weeks and had been skating at one point but has stopped since then.  At this point, a return in the final two weeks of the season seems unlikely.  Johnson collected two goals and three assists in 42 games with Chicago while adding 109 hits; he’ll be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer.
  • Heading into the season, many expected Chicago to move veterans Jason Dickinson and Petr Mrazek. As pending unrestricted free agents, the thought was they’d hold down a roster spot and then be moved at the trade deadline for draft picks but both signed two-year extensions instead.  Scott Powers of The Athletic posits (subscription link) that the Blackhawks could use more players like that, short-term veterans that can make a bigger impact than anticipated and then stick around a little longer.  Adding pieces like that would raise the floor of the team when they eventually look to emerge from their long-term rebuild.

Dominic Basse Transfers To St. Lawrence

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  • Blackhawks goalie prospect Dominic Basse has transferred to St. Lawrence, the school announced (Twitter link). The 22-year-old was a sixth-rounder of Chicago in 2019, going 167th overall.  Basse played his first two years at Colorado College before spending the last two at St. Cloud State.  Last season, Basse posted a 2.75 GAA with a .896 SV% in 25 games and with Ben Kraws turning pro and signing with Dallas, he should have a shot at a heavy workload for his final collegiate campaign.

Dominic James To Return To Minnesota-Duluth For Senior Season

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  • Blackhawks forward prospect Dominic James will return to the University of Minnesota-Duluth for his senior season in 2024-25, per Scott Powers of The Athletic. The alternate captain of the Bulldogs had his season end all the way back in October after just two games, recording one assist before undergoing season-ending surgery to address an upper-body injury. Chicago had considered offering him an entry-level contract, per Powers, but a jump to the professional ranks would have been difficult after such a lengthy period away from the ice. James, 21, went undrafted twice before Chicago took a flyer on him in the sixth round of the 2022 draft after a banner freshman season with the Bulldogs. Finishing with six goals and 18 points in 39 games, James helped them capture the NCHC championship and was named to the All-Tournament Team. He was also named to the U.S. national junior team, representing his country at the 2022 World Juniors with an assist in five games.
  • Flames winger Andrew Mangiapane could return tomorrow against the Jets after a three-game absence, head coach Ryan Huska told Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960. The 27-year-old sustained an undisclosed injury against the Blackhawks on March 26, causing his third, fourth and fifth absences of the season. It’s been another season of solid middle-six production for the diminutive winger, tied for sixth on the team in scoring with 13 goals and 38 points in 69 games. He’s averaging 16:06 per game, down from last season’s career-high of 16:49.

Blackhawks Sign Nick Lardis To Entry-Level Deal

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The Blackhawks signed left-wing prospect Nick Lardis to a three-year, entry-level contract Wednesday, per a team announcement. The deal carries a cap hit of $897K.

Lardis, 18, was picked up by Chicago last summer, heading to them with the 67th overall pick in the 2023 draft. The Ontario-born winger has been a much-improved talent this season with OHL Brantford, notching 29 goals and 50 points in an injury-plagued campaign that limited him to 37 games.

The speedy sniper is a top-10 talent in a top-10 prospect pool. In The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler’s 2024 rankings, he was the ninth-ranked prospect in the organization. His skating is his biggest threat, both in terms of his straight-line speed and edgework, but he has quite a capable shot as well. He lacks over-the-top size at 5’11” and 165 lbs, somewhat limiting his appeal on draft day last year, but was a solid value selection at the time. Early returns look very promising. Since beginning his major junior career in 2021, he’s amassed 84 goals and 152 points in 169 games for Peterborough and Brantford/Hamilton.

Lardis will likely return to Brantford next season, as he still needs a bit more development time. Making Chicago’s roster out of camp appears unlikely, and he’s too young for assignment to AHL Rockford per the NHL/CHL transfer agreement. If he plays fewer than 10 NHL games next season, his ELC will defer to 2025-26. Given his age, he’s only eligible for a slide once, not twice. In that very likely event, he’d become an RFA upon expiry in 2028.

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