Chicago Blackhawks' next defensive stopper: Who will step up and fill role?

EDMONTON — Connor Murphy never played a truly meaningful regular-season game during his nine seasons in Chicago. A playoff spot never hung in the balance. So-called must-wins weren’t about jockeying for position in the Central Division, they were about pulling out of yet another tailspin, about building some desperately needed confidence. The games never meant anything in the big picture.Advertisement