Hjalmarsson traded to ARI, also acquires Stepan+Raanta

[CarltonTheBear]

Chicago Blackhawks‏ @NHLBlackhawks
#Blackhawks acquire defensemen Connor Murphy and Laurent Dauphin from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson.

This feels pretty bad for Chicago.

Murphy is a worse player with basically an identical cap hit. I don't get this at all. And Dauphin SOUNDS made up.

No salary retained either. Seriously this is just dumb.

UPDATE:

Darren Dreger‏ @DarrenDreger 5 minutes ago
Sounds like another big Arizona trade is in works.  Raanta and Stepan likely to Coyotes. 7th overall could be part of it and DeAngelo.

Arizona isn't messing around anymore.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Last night the old boys club media were absolutely losing their minds over Arizona firing Dave Tippett, being particularly critical of Chayka because of his background. And in the span of like 15 minutes he solidified his teams top defensive pairing, got a very responsible top line centre, and a goalie with starter potential. Not bad.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I still can't believe that Vegas didn't take either one of Raanta or Grubauer to platoon with Fleury. Especially Raanta since at least with Washington they still got a solid defenceman.

 

[bustaheims]

Last night the old boys club media were absolutely losing their minds over Arizona firing Dave Tippett, being particularly critical of Chayka because of his background. And in the span of like 15 minutes he solidified his teams top defensive pairing, got a very responsible top line centre, and a goalie with starter potential. Not bad.

Yeah, but at what cost? At what costs?!?!?

What's that you say? All it cost him was a couple decent but unspectacular prospects, a #4 defenceman, and the 7th overall pick in what appears to be a mediocre draft? Oh. Okay then. Move along.

 

[princedpw]

Niklas Hjalmarsson to the Arizona Coyotes for defencemen Connor Murphy and Laurent Dauphin.

According to http://www.tsn.ca/blackhawks-trade-d-hjalmarsson-to-coyotes-1.787259

I don't understand this trade from either team's perspective.

Yotes, a terrible team, get a good older guy, but only for another year before he is a UFA.

Chicago gets a pair of younger guys but the salary differential doesn't help their cap crunch much.  And they probably get slightly worse in the near term.

A kind of lose-lose trade.

 

[Bates]

I don't know if he will continue to grow but DeAngelo showed a lot of potential last season.  Murphy is very average IMO and reminds me of Schenn from years ago.  I would have made both AZ deals in a second flat.