One of the biggest needs the Detroit Red Wings are hoping to fill at the trade deadline is for a top-four defenseman. Just about every candidate on the market has come up in trade talks with the Red Wings. 15 of the 50 available candidates on TSN's trade board are defensemen. Yesterday, however, that number went down as one of the most oft-named defensemen on the market bid farewell to his old team.
The Edmonton Oilers acquired defenseman Connor Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a 2028 second round pick. While there's a chance Murphy might not be the answer to Detroit's defensive depth, losing out on a defenseman in lieu of the deadline puts additional pressure on general manager Steve Yzerman to make a move.