The Blackhawks are starting off training camp on the wrong foot.
Connor Murphy will be sidelined roughly eight weeks with a back injury and Brent Seabrook at least one week with an abdominal injury, team physician Dr. Michael Terry announced Friday morning.
While Seabrook isn't expected to miss any regular season action, it appears Murphy will and that's a difficult blow to a Blackhawks defensive group that can't afford to lose a member of its Top 4. It also means there will be real competition on the blue line this September for who will take Murphy's spot.
"Things changed here quickly the last day or so in that area," coach Joel Quenneville said.
The obvious answer is Henri Jokiharju, and it's hard to see him not making it at this point, at least to start the season. Gustav Forsling opened the door to that possibility when it was revealed in late July that he would be out until November with a wrist injury. Now there's an actual opening with Murphy's long-term injury.
"It's a tough position to come in as a young player because there's so many different situations to read, to feel," Quenneville said regarding the possibility of Jokiharju making the big club at 19 years old. "Not just that, there's strength, conditioning, there's confidence. There's a lot that plays into what gets comfortable in young players. I think he's made great progress over the last year. Let's see how he develops in training camp.
"But strength and decision-making at a young age is the test that you have to find out soon and see how he handles it in camp and then after we see we'll make that decision. But certainly, he's progressed. ... He's the one guy that might be a little closer than anybody right now."
NHL
Brandon Davidson was brought in on a professional tryout and, if he makes the team, could serve as the sixth or seventh defenseman, depending on who secures the sixth spot. Erik Gustafsson, Duncan Keith, Brandon Manning, Jan Rutta and Seabrook are all under contract and figure to be the first five in.
After that? It's up for grabs.
"There's going to be some guys that will likely be considered right till the end," Quenneville said. "And we'll be looking at them and you're always looking around the league as things happen as well. It's always an area at the end of last year we're looking to upgrade and we had a little bit of a surprise here recently but hey, Seabs is going to be ready. So we'll see."