Ahead of Tuesday’s NHL game against the Ottawa Senators, Connor McDavid voiced strong support for the Edmonton Oilers‘ new addition.
The Oilers made a move to address their defensive concerns, acquiring Connor Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks for a 2028 second-round pick. Chicago retained 50 percent of Murphy’s $4.4 million salary in the deal.
“Not fun to play against,” McDavid said when asked about Murphy. “Which is always a good sign. Just a solid player. I think he can really help.”
Murphy has built a reputation as a steady, physical defender over 805 NHL games with Arizona and Chicago. This season, he led Blackhawks defensemen in blocked shots and penalty-kill ice time.
McDavid believes that type of presence fills a need.
“I don’t think you can have too many of those guys,” McDavid said. “Those guys are extremely valuable. So, yeah, I’m excited about it.”
Edmonton has allowed 3.33 goals per game this season, ranking near the bottom of the league. The penalty kill sits at 76.9 percent, another area where Murphy’s experience could make a difference.
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Connor McDavid Talks About Adding Players Without Subtracting
The Oilers sit at 29-24-8 and fourth in the Pacific Division. While they average 3.52 goals per game and own the NHL’s top power play at 32.3 percent, recent defensive lapses have led to five losses in their last six outings. Management targeted Murphy as a stabilizing piece rather than a headline scorer.
McDavid also noted the importance of adding without subtracting from the active roster. “Finding a way to add without having to subtract is always a great thing,” he said.
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McDavid pointed out that draft picks carry less weight for a team in win-now mode. “Draft picks aren’t as valuable to us as someone like Connor,” McDavid added.
The Oilers loaned forward Isaac Howard to AHL Bakersfield in a related move. For McDavid, the message is clear. The organization believes in this group and is looking to strengthen it for a playoff push.
