Another well-liked Chicago athlete is on the move.
Just hours before the 2017 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks announced they have traded defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson to the Arizona Coyotes. In return, the Blackhawks are receiving defensemen Connor Murphy and Laurent Dauphin.
Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Stan Bowman commented on the move via a press release sent out by the team:
“Niklas’ contributions to the three Stanley Cup championship teams are well known but his dependability as a teammate, selfless attitude and the way he represented the Chicago Blackhawks on and off the ice are what made him such a beloved member of the organization,” Bowman said. “He made his debut in Chicago in 2008 and quietly established himself as one of the toughest competitors in franchise history. We wish he and his family continued success.”
Hjalmarsson was a key piece in each of the three Stanley Cup championships he won with the Blackhawks since 2010.
The 24-year-old Murphy will enter his fifth season in the league and is coming off a 17-point performance in 2016-17. Dauphin has played in just 32 games over the last two seasons in the NHL but is only 22 and brings some youth to the Blackhawks.
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