With Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy close to making his season debut after dealing with a back injury and Gustav Forsling merely day to day with a shoulder ailment, general manager Stan Bowman is looking to free up space on defense and has begun shopping fellow blue-liners Brandon Manning and Jan Rutta, a source told The Athletic's Scott Powers.

Manning was signed this offseason to a two-year, $4.5-million contract, while Rutta is in his second season with the team after signing a one-year, $2.25-million extension earlier this year.

The two have combined for just three goals and nine points this season, and, given their respective cap hits, Powers' source believes that the Blackhawks would take anything in return in a trade for either of them simply to get their salaries off the books.

Chicago currently has just under $5 million in cap space.

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