ECHL: Greensboro Gargoyles Trade Wade Murphy

Wade Goodbye

Wade Murphy has been a valuable asset for the Gargoyles this year as a veteran presence in the locker room. The Gargoyles do not have many players on their roster with professional experience, so having a guy like Wade Murphy, who is 32 and has played professionally since the 2016-2017 season, was extremely valuable to the young guns on the roster. Murphy played collegiately at two very reputable schools in the University of North Dakota and Arizona State University. The Canadian even had the honor of being drafted by the Nashville Predators in the 7th round of the 2013 draft. After Murphy’s collegiate career, he made his professional debut with the ECHL’s Manchester Monarchs. The veteran forward would end up bouncing around in the ECHL before heading to Norway, Slovenia, and Slovakia. Ultimately Murphy would end up in Idaho last season before joining the Gargoyles this season.

The I-85 Swap

What is Greenville getting? The Swamp Rabbits are getting a depth forward with a lot of pro experience. This season, Murphy has appeared in 24 games, scored four goals, and added five assists for a total of nine points. He has shown that he is absolutely capable of providing depth and some leadership for a young roster. That begs the question, why trade him? The answer is likely that Murphy would benefit from a bigger role elsewhere, and that the Gargoyles can utilize that spot in the lineup for someone else. Greensboro could be getting a player sent down from Chicago, make another move shortly, or commit to a full youth movement in order to develop the young guys more efficiently.

What is Greensboro getting in return? The Gargoyles are getting a fan favorite, future considerations. While we don’t yet know the actual return for Greensboro, it is safe to assume that those in charge do have a plan in place. In time, we will find out what that plan is. The Gargoyles will be back in action Friday against Reading and will be back at home January 23-25, where they will be celebrating their affiliation with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.

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