Edmonton Oilers acquire Connor Murphy from Chicago Blackhawks

The fit between the Oilers and Connor Murphy

The Oilers had a hole on the right side, especially on the penalty kill. Murphy will likely slot into a major role on the penalty kill, as well as a role in defensive situations at even strength. His size gives him a prototypical archetype of a defensive defenceman. 

Some concerning stats come from his icetime, which is down below 17 minutes per game this season, and his control of play. Not all metrics look favourably on Murphy, but other stats still suggest a strong defensive presence. This is especially impressive given how bad the Blackhawks have been over recent seasons. Murphy may perform much better when properly supported on a good team. 

The move does signify the Oilers’ intention to improve defensively, which has been a clear issue this season. Younger options like Ty Emberson and Alec Regula have shown some promise, but neither has the same pedigree that Murphy does. This move upgrades the defensive identity of the team, perhaps allowing them to believe and rely on that side of the puck. Ultimately, this should also help the Oilers’ goalies.

Luckily, the Oilers have a lot of potential partners for Murphy. The blueline already employs a lot of puck movers on the left side, from Jake Walman and Darnell Nurse to Spencer Stastney. Ideally, Murphy will solidify a second pairing that is used in high-leverage defensive situations.