The Edmonton Oilers have no shortage of NHL offseason storylines. Questions about the team’s next head coach continue to dominate headlines, while trade speculation surrounding Darnell Nurse remains active. Yet one of the most important issues facing the organization may be receiving the least attention: re-signing defenseman Connor Murphy.
Edmonton Journal columnist David Staples recently highlighted the unusual lack of contract activity from the Oilers. Six weeks after the end of the season, Edmonton has yet to announce a single internal signing among its unrestricted or restricted free agents.
That silence has increased concern around Murphy, who became an unrestricted free agent after completing the final year of his four-year, $17.6 million contract.
“From where I sit, Murphy is the key signing because he’s the most solid defensive d-man the Oilers have had since Kris Russell and Adam Larsson were on the team,” Staples wrote. “The Oilers could use Murphy and one other d-man with those same qualities. Murphy is also a right-shot d-man, so he fill a major hole on the team’s second pairing, likely teaming up with Jake Walman.”
Connor Murphy filled a critical need for Oilers
The Oilers acquired Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks on March 2, 2026, hoping to address a longstanding weakness on the right side of their defense corps.
The move paid immediate dividends.
Murphy quickly established himself as Edmonton’s most dependable defensive defenseman. He spent much of his even-strength ice time alongside Nurse, and the pairing posted a 57.1 percent goal share over 289 minutes together. More importantly, they consistently limited high-danger scoring chances, an area where Edmonton struggled throughout the season.
The Oilers finished 25th in the NHL in goals against despite boasting one of the league’s most explosive offenses led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Their first-round playoff exit against Anaheim exposed those defensive issues once again.
NHL analyst Mark Spector wrote, “Edmonton Oilers still very much on UFA Connor Murphy’s radar. Pending coaching search and status of Darnell Nurse both factors in his decision/negotiation. Not deal breakers, we’re told, but factors.”
Now, replacing Murphy would be difficult and potentially expensive.
NHL free agency market forces could complicate Oilers’ negotiations
Team insider Bob Stauffer estimated Murphy’s next contract could fall between $3.5 million and $4 million annually on a three-year deal. However, with the salary cap rising to $104 million, the veteran defenseman may find stronger offers on the open market.
“Connor Murphy… He made $4.4 (million) last year. My guess is $3.5 (million) to $4 million on a three-year term,” Stauffer said on Oilers Now.
Murphy recorded 17 points, 138 blocked shots, and 90 hits across 80 games between Chicago and Edmonton. While those numbers are not flashy, they represent exactly the type of reliable shutdown play contenders seek every summer.
The Oilers’ challenge is straightforward. They can either invest in a proven fit who already stabilizes their second pairing or enter free agency searching for a replacement in a competitive market.
From my viewpoint, Murphy should rank near the top of Edmonton’s offseason priorities. Skilled forwards are already in place. What the Oilers lack is defensive certainty. Murphy provided some of that certainty, and losing him would create another hole on a blue line that already has enough questions.
