The Blackhawks placed defenseman Connor Murphy on long-term injured reserve with a groin injury and recalled Dennis Gilbert from the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL.
Murphy suffered the injury during the Blackhawks’ 2-1 shootout loss to the Golden Knights on Tuesday. The 26-year-old missed part of the preseason and the team’s regular-season opener in Prague with the same injury.
Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton said after Tuesday’s game that Murphy would miss a “couple of weeks.” Chicago plays 11 NHL games during the 24-day span Murphy must remain on LTIR, meaning the earliest he could return will Nov. 16 in Nashville.
Gilbert, a left-handed shot, played 14:57 minutes in the team’s open opener which ranked fifth among Chicago blue liners. The 22-year-old, who is waiver-wire exempt, had skated in three AHL games since he was sent back to Rockford.
Colliton did not give specifics Wednesday on how he’ll alter the team’s defensive pairings with Murphy out. Murphy was finding success with Duncan Keith on the top pairing.
Chicago has seven active defensemen: Calvin de Haan, Erik Gustafsson, Slater Koekkoek, Olli Maatta, Brent Seabrook, Gilbert and Keith.