Blackhawks Shut Down Kirby Dach and Connor Murphy For Final 3 Games

Kirby Dach

Dach has missed each of the Blackhawks’ past four games after suffering a right shoulder sprain in the team’s 5-4 shootout victory over San Jose on March 14. Now, the 2019 third-overall selection will officially have his season come to an end.

All in all, Dach put together a lackluster season for the Blackhawks, tallying just 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) in 79 games. The 21-year-old forward also struggled mightily at the face-off dot, winning just 32.8 percent of his draws. To put that into perspective, Dach had a better face-off percentage (33.8 percent) as an 18-year-old in his first NHL season. These struggles even led to King trying out Dach on the wing for a handful of games down the stretch. Offensively, positionally… you name it, Dach struggled at it this year.

Connor Murphy

Murphy has been in concussion protocol since taking a dangerous hit into the boards from Ottawa Senators’ forward Parker Kelley on March 12. Murphy was down on the ice for several minutes before eventually being stretchered off.

In his fifth season with the Blackhawks, Murphy recorded 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 57 games while averaging 21:46 of ice time per night. Despite missing each of the last 19 games, Murphy still ranks 12th in the NHL with 150 blocked shots.

On a positive note, both Dach and Murphy were on the ice for the Blackhawks’ morning skate on Monday. But, with nothing left to play for at this point in the season, there is no reason to have either player return and risk getting re-injured.