Connor Murphy Grading Oilers 5-Year Extension – Hockey Writers –

The Edmonton Oilers recently completed another piece of business, extending defenseman Connor Murphy to a new five-year contract worth $4.1 million annually. The announcement of his extension came one day after they announced the same extension for Jason Dickinson.

MURPH 👊

The #Oilers signed defenseman Connor Murphy to a five-year contract with an AAV of $4.1 million. pic.twitter.com/7avMhxiYDt

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 22, 2026

Murphy, 33 years old, was acquired by the Oilers before the 2026 trade deadline from the Chicago Blackhawks, and proved to be a good fit right away. Between the Blackhawks and Oilers, Murphy scored five goals and added 12 assists for 17 points in 80 games. Throughout his career, he has scored 48 goals and added 129 assists for 177 points in 825 games.

Murphy doesn’t bring much to the table offensively, but his value comes from being a solid defender who can play big minutes in a top-four role. Similar to Dickinson’s extension, the announcement was met with mixed opinions, with some fans believing it was too strong, while others believed it was a bad contract.

Oilers Doing a Good Job So Far This Offseason

Let’s get one thing straight, this has been an outstanding performance from general manager Stan Bowman over the past few days.

Considering the value that Dickinson and Murphy would bring to any team, props must be given to the management team for bringing them both in at a decent price. This word can be a little scary, but if it means reducing the money, I don’t mind a year or two.

Another good thing about the Murphy deal is the trade protection structure. In the first three seasons of the contract, he has a no-trade clause, but he has a 16-team roster for the last two seasons, making it easier to move him if he starts to decline too much.

There is still a lot of work to be done for the Oilers, but bringing back two pending free agents is a good start.

The Oilers Had to Bring Murphy Back

With the report that Darnell Nurse requested a trade, the Oilers likely had no choice but to bring Murphy back. Jake Walman should be able to replace Nurse on the second pairing, but if they had lost Murphy in free agency, they would have focused on trying to find a replacement, and that would have cost more money, and they may not have been as successful as Murphy.

As I mentioned earlier, Murphy doesn’t provide much offensively, but his value comes from his defensive ability at a high level. Considering one of the Oilers’ key weaknesses was their defense, bringing Murphy back was a must.

Connor Murphy, a 5x$4.1M signing by EDM, is a veteran home defenseman with good size and reach who plays a disruptive game despite not having good wheels. Good first pass but doesn’t do much with the puck. pic.twitter.com/hAXW3Ux2oc

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 22, 2026

Murphy is a perfect fit for the Oilers following a trade before the deadline, so banking on him, rather than trying to sign, or find someone new in that role, is a smart decision.

A Weak Free Agent Class Makes the Deal Look Better

The free agent class this offseason is one of the weakest in recent history, but teams still need to improve. Another expectation that many teams are looking at are right backs who can play big minutes, which is exactly what Murphy is.

Considering the amount of interest Murphy would have if he hit the open market, this deal looks pretty good. There’s a world where a team desperate enough to add a defense could offer Murphy more than $5.5 million a year.

Good Contract, Not Perfect

This is a great contract for the Oilers. They kept a player who fit their team well, without breaking the bank, leaving them with room to make other moves this off-season.

I would like to see the term be three years, but if adding two more years means saving enough money to cover other needs, I can live with that.

It’s not a perfect contract, but it’s pretty solid.

Grade: A-

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