CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks ended their season-long pursuit of holdout Joe Murphy Thursday by acquiring the high-scoring forward from the Edmonton Oilers.
Chicago sent second-year Russian defenseman Igor Kravchuk and minor- league center Dean McAmmond to Edmonton in return for Murphy, a 25-year- old who racked up career highs of 35 goals and 47 assists with the Oilers last season. The speedy right winger also had eight goals and 16 assists in 16 playoff games while leading Edmonton into the Campbell Conference finals.
'I'm looking forward to seeing where I'm at,' said Murphy, who has been working out with the Detroit Falcons of the Colonial League. 'To tell you the truth, I think I've worked out hard and kept myself in good shape, and hopefully I'll be in the lineup as soon as possible.'
Since being swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals last season, the Blackhawks have been in search of some much- needed scoring punch. They began pursuing Murphy early on in the season when Mike Keenan was still their general manager.
Blackhawks current GM Bob Pulford signed Murphy to a three-year plus deal, putting him under contract through the 1995-96 season. Financial terms were not disclosed.
'Obviously there's going to pressure because of what's went on,' Murphy said. 'I'm just going to do my best and contribute the way I can.'
Contract talks between Murphy and Edmonton broke off last September, with the two sides reportedly $300,000 apart. He becomes the latest in a long line of top players the past few years to depart Edmonton because of contract squabbles with Oilers owner Peter Pocklington.
Murphy was the first player selected in the 1986 entry draft, taken by the Detroit Red Wings out of Michigan State. After spending parts of four seasons with Detroit, he was traded to Edmonton on Nov. 2, 1989, along with Petr Klima, Adam Graves and Jeff Sharples for Jimmy Carson, Kevin McClelland and a draft choice.
In his first part season with the Oilers, Murphy helped guide the club to the 1990 Stanley Cup while scoring six goals and adding eight assists in 22 playoff games. In his first full season with the Oilers, 1990-91, he came into his own with 27 goals and 35 assists.
Blackhawks Coach Darryl Sutter may try to find a way to team Murphy with top center Jeremy Roenick, who has played with right wing Steve Larmer for the past four years. Murphy is scheduled to join the Blackhawks for practice in Detroit Friday but may not be ready to play until next week.
Deep in defensemen, the Blackhawks were able to part with Kravchuk, 26, a possible future star who helped guide the former Soviet Olympic Team to the gold medal at the 1992 Winter Games in France. Kravchuk, who joined the Blackhawks late last season, had six goals and nine assists in 38 games this year after missing time with an ankle injury.
McAmmond, 19, was Chicago's first-round pick and the 22nd player selected overall in the 1991 entry draft. He had no goals and two assists in five games with the Blackhawks last season and has been playing junior hockey again this year with Prince Albert and Swift Current of the Western Hockey League.
