Breaking: Defenseman demoted to the AHL amidst huge trade rumors!

A very interesting development on this trade front. 

There is little doubt that Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Ryan Murphy is on the trading block in a major way, after all one of the National Hockey League's top insiders in Darren Dreger had this to say on the rumors last week:

He doesn't seem to be a fit for Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters. Murphy's name has been used as trade bait for months, but now the Canes are actively shopping him. With a salary of $750,000 this year and $825,000 next season, the 23-year-old, right-shot defenceman will likely be on the move.

With that in mind today's move appears to be a very curious one, with Sportsnet insider Chris Johnston now reporting that the Hurricanes have demoted Murphy, a former first round draft pick, to the American Hockey League. 

The move may be intended to give interested teams a better opportunity to scout the defenseman, but it hardly seems like the kind of move one would expect from a team shopping a player. The Hurricanes are also coming off four straight wins making this move even more curious.

More to come.

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