Edmonton Oilers finally fixed right-side defensive gap with Connor Murphy's addition
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Daniel Lucente
Mar 9, 2026 (9:38)
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Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Sean Pangs flagged it fast, Connor Murphy logged 22:33 for the Edmonton Oilers, and that number screamed deadline value.
Murphy is not a mystery add. He is 32, shoots right, and Phoenix drafted him 20th overall in 2011.
Edmonton paid a 2028 second-round pick for him. Chicago kept 50 percent of his $4.4 million cap hit, and Murphy can walk as a UFA this summer.
That matters because this was never about flash. Stan Bowman wanted a right-shot defender who could take hard minutes and settle the pairings.
Before the trade, Murphy had 4-9-13 in 60 games, led Chicago in blocks with 87, and sat second in shorthanded ice time per game at 2:57.
The early return already fits the scouting report. Edmonton Hockey Daily highlighted the seanpangs clip after Murphy played 22:33 and looked calm in the dirty areas.
He is reading rushes early, closing stick lanes, and killing plays before they become chaos around the crease. That is the plain hockey reason this move matters.
Connor Murphy changes the Edmonton Oilers equation
Oilers fans have been begging for less track meet hockey, so this kind of quiet, boring defending feels like oxygen right now.
The Oilers beat Vegas 4-2 on Sunday and improved to 31-25-8. They are still chasing points, so dependable defending is not a luxury anymore.
Murphy's value is also roster math. A retained $2.2 million hit is easier to carry, and it gives Edmonton flexibility instead of forcing another cap squeeze.
Now the next test comes Tuesday in Colorado. If Murphy keeps soaking 20-plus minutes, Edmonton's blue line starts looking built for April instead of patched for March.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 9|326 ANSWERS Edmonton Oilers finally fixed right-side defensive gap with Connor Murphy's addition Has Connor Murphy already become a must-have piece for the Edmonton Oilers? | ||
| Yes | 255 | 78.2 % |
| No | 71 | 21.8 % |
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