Why Oilers Added Connor Murphy, and Now Who’s on their Radar

In Chicago, he plays over 16 minutes per night this season and leads the team in blocks. He doesn’t contribute on the scoresheet, but he makes a difference with the little things: net front presence, physicality around the boards, and clearing second chances.

That is a need Edmonton has had on its back end. While they have puck movers and offense-driven defensemen, they’ve been missing a shutdown presence outside of Mattias Ekholm. Murphy brings another body who can play heavy minutes without the puck on his stick.

Projected Fit in the Top Four

Murphy is expected to slot right into the top four immediately. The most logical pairing is Murphy with Jake Walman. Walman has the skating and transitional skills to play with Murphy. Walman can activate and move the puck up ice, while Murphy focuses on defensive-zone responsibilities.

That pairing reshapes the depth chart and pushes Darnell Nurse into a third-pairing role alongside Ty Emberson. This might look like a demotion for Nurse, but it might actually be a good thing for the Edmonton Oilers. Nurse has been carrying a heavy load, and maybe this will allow him to simplify his game and stop making reckless plays.

A likely alignment could look like:

• Ekholm – Bouchard
• Walman – Murphy
• Nurse – Emberson

It’s a more balanced structure, with defined roles and less strain on any one pairing.

Cap Maneuvering Required to Complete Deal

As with every addition to a team’s cap space leading up to a deadline, creativity was necessary for this trade. In order to accommodate this deal, Andrew Mangiapane and Alec Regula were sent to the minors. Josh Samanski and Ike Howard were recalled to assist with cap flexibility. Mattias Janmark was placed on long-term injured reserve to provide additional cap space. Ike Howard was then sent back down after serving his purpose as a temporary call-up in the trade process.

In the deal, Edmonton adds $2.2M annual cap hit. After putting Janmark on LTIR on Monday, the Oilers sent Howard to the minors for cap purposes. That gave them $2.4M space available, and after acquiring Murphy at $2.2M, they now have $200K of cap space remaining in LTIR with 21 active players (12F/7D/2G) + Janmark LTIR

Edmonton’s cap space remains tight. In order for a major addition to occur prior to the deadline, Mangiapane’s contract must be moved. This salary represents one of the more obvious ways to provide flexibility prior to Friday’s deadline.

Focus Shifts to Centre Depth

Now that the defence has been addressed, the forward group is now on the radar, and that begins with centre depth.

The Oilers have been seeking to improve their centre depth behind Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Adding a third-line centre who excels in faceoffs, penalty killing, and defensive situations is a priority.

There are a few players who could be good fits to improve the Oilers’ centre depth. One could be Nicolas Roy from the Toronto Maple Leafs. He brings size and playoff experience to the table. Another could be Charlie Coyle, who brings two-way ability and is responsible in his own end. Boone Jenner from the Columbus Blue Jackets brings leadership, size, and faceoff ability to the table.

But then there is the possibility of bringing in the big fish: Ryan O’Reilly. If the Oilers could persuade O’Reilly to agree to a trade to Edmonton, they would immediately solve their centre depth issues and add a champion to their roster. But that is a big if, and it makes the situation with Mangiapane that much more important.

A Calculated First Step

The Murphy trade marks phase one of the Edmonton Oilers’ deadline strategy. Instead of going out to get offense, the team chose to improve the foundation of their club. The Oilers have lost games this year due to defensive collapses, and it appears the front office believes defense is key to a long playoff run.

If Bowman can continue to clear cap space and find an upgrade at center, the Oilers look like a complete team going into the playoffs.

Connor Murphy provides the Oilers with something they have needed for some time: structure, physicality, and dependability on the blue line.