Weeks of speculation ended on Monday with the latest Edmonton Oilers trade. The club brought in some much-needed depth on the blue line in a deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Oilers sent a second-round pick to the Blackhawks in exchange for impending UFA defenseman Connor Murphy, PuckPedia reported.
The deal isn’t much of a surprise, considering how Murphy’s name has been in the rumor mill for a while. Several teams had been linked to the veteran blueliner, with the Oilers becoming the most aggressive suitor.
Murphy comes with a $4.4 million cap hit. At this point, it’s well under $2 million. However, it’s also worth noting that the Blackhawks retained 50% of Murphy’s salary to make the math work.
The retention is great, especially since the Oilers waived Andrew Mangiapane and Alec Regula on Sunday to clear cap space and roster spots.
Both cleared on Monday, paving the way for this Oilers trade.
That said, Murphy will likely take over on the team’s bottom pair. The 32-year-old is a right-shot. So, he’ll likely squeeze out one of Ty Emberson or Spencer Stastney.
The Oilers could get an offensive boost from adding Murphy. In 60 games this season, he’s scored four goals and 13 points. Getting some more pop from the third pairing could make this Oilers trade worthwhile for the club.
It remains unclear when Murphy will be joining the team. The Oilers next play on Tuesday night at home against the Ottawa Senators.
Oilers Trade Not as Costly as Anticipated
Tuesday’s Oilers trade wasn’t nearly as costly as most fans would have believed. While the Oilers sent a second-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft, the cost was much lower than anticipated.
Given the Blackhawks’ retention, it’s surprising this deal didn’t cost the Oilers at least a first-rounder. Considering the Oilers have their second-round pick available in the 2026 NHL Draft and first-rounders in 2027 and 2028, it’s mildly surprising that the Blackhawks didn’t push for a higher draft pick.
It’s also interesting that this Oilers trade didn’t involve a prospect. It’s worth noting that Murphy has a 10-team no-trade clause. So, that situation could have played a factor in essentially forcing the Blackhawks to move Murphy to the Oilers.
Blackhawks Doing Right by Murphy
Part of the chatter surrounding this Oilers trade was the Blackhawks’ intention to do right by Murphy. The club had pledged to send Murphy to a contending team where he could get a taste of playoff experience.
The only time Murphy has appeared in postseason action was during the COVID-shortened 2019-20 campaign. The Blackhawks played nine postseason games that season, as part of the modified playoff format that year.
This time around, the veteran D-man will be hoping to play much more than just nine games. Edmonton enters Monday night’s action in third place in the Pacific Division with 66 points. They’re one point ahead of the fourth-place Seattle Kraken.
That’s why this Oilers trade comes with a certain sense of uncertainty. The club is looking to secure its ticket to the postseason and hopefully get over the hump. Oilers fans hope Murphy can be one of the missing pieces to finally bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada.
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