Edmonton Oilers Sign Connor Murphy to a 5-Year Extension

Update: 9:35am: The Edmonton Oilers appear to be making progress on another important piece of business this offseason. Multiple sources confirm the Oilers have signed Connor Murphy to a five-year extension worth $4.1 million per season.

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Original report on Monday morning: According to TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, significant progress has been made between the Oilers and veteran defenseman Connor Murphy, with a deal potentially being finalized in the coming days. With free agency approaching and the market for defensive right-shot defensemen expected to be extremely thin, Edmonton locking up Murphy before he reaches unrestricted free agency would represent another strong move by management.

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Rishaug isn’t the only one reporting this is close. Elliotte Friedman noted on his 32 Thoughts podcast that this could get done on Monday.

Murphy Brings Stability to Oilers’ Defense

Murphy quickly proved his value after arriving in Edmonton. While he may not put up eye-popping offensive numbers, his game has always been built around reliability, physicality, and defensive awareness.

Sounds like solid progress has been made between Murphy and the Oilers, wouldn’t be surprised to see something get done in the next day or so.

— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) June 21, 2026

The Oilers have long searched for a dependable stay-at-home defender capable of handling difficult minutes. Murphy provides exactly that.

His ability to kill penalties, clear the front of the net, and allow his partner more freedom offensively makes him an ideal fit for a team built around elite scoring talent. Championship contenders often need players who embrace the less glamorous parts of the game, and Murphy has made a career out of doing just that.

Ideal Fit Beside Ekholm

Looking ahead to next season, Murphy could slot perfectly alongside Mattias Ekholm on Edmonton’s second pairing.

Assuming the Oilers trade Darnell Nurse and don’t land an upgrade for their top pair, the new arrangement could see Jake Walman get the opportunity to slot beside Evan Bouchard on the top unit. Walman’s skating and puck-moving abilities complement Bouchard’s offensive strengths, while Ekholm and Murphy would provide a veteran, shutdown combination capable of matching up against top competition.

Creating balance throughout the defense corps has been one of Edmonton’s priorities, and Murphy’s presence would give the next head coach multiple reliable options.

Thin UFA Market Makes Extension Important

The upcoming unrestricted free agent class on defense lacks many proven top-four options. Teams searching for experienced defensive right-shot defenders are expected to overpay once the market opens. For that reason alone, Edmonton would be wise to avoid entering a bidding war.

A three-to-four-year contract appears to be the ideal solution. Such a deal would provide cost certainty while keeping an experienced veteran in the lineup during the remainder of the Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl championship window.

Murphy is entering the stage of his career where stability becomes increasingly valuable, and Edmonton offers him the opportunity to compete for a Stanley Cup every season.

More Changes Could Be Coming

Murphy’s expected extension may not be the only major move on Edmonton’s blue line.

Trade speculation surrounding Nurse has intensified, with multiple reports suggesting a move could be on the horizon. When Nurse is ultimately dealt, retaining Murphy becomes even more important for maintaining experience and structure on the back end.

While plenty of work remains for the Oilers this summer, securing Murphy before free agency would represent another step toward keeping their championship core intact.

If negotiations continue on their current path, Oilers fans may not have to wait much longer for an official announcement.

Next: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Senators, Oilers & Maple Leafs’ Lesson