NHL Rumors: Oilers & Blackhawks Becoming Trade Partners
Connor Murphy trade fit with Oilers is obvious
Murphy checks a lot of the boxes Edmonton seems to need every March.
He’s a 6-foot-4 right shot who plays a simple, heavy game, kills penalties, and can handle tough minutes without needing power play time to matter. This season in Chicago, Murphy has 4 goals, 12 points, 55 hits, and 84 blocks in 57 games, and he’s in the final year of his deal with a $4.4 million cap hit.
The NHL's Trade Freeze is now lifted, which means Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy could be dealt soon.
— CHGO Blackhawks (@CHGO_Blackhawks) February 23, 2026
Our @jayzawaski asked Murphy's Blackhawks teammates and coaches about his impact on them and the team during his nine years as a Hawk. https://t.co/9S8TZgsf6b
Murphy has spent nine of his 13 NHL years in Chicago, recording 34 goals, 123 points, a -38 plus/minus rating, and 1120 blocked shots, and 1,070 hits across 544 games played.
Oilers trade deadline plan could come down to price
Edmonton has gone shopping for a defenseman in two of the last three deadlines, and the market for right-shot help is usually expensive.
That’s why the Murphy angle makes sense, because he’s a rental and Chicago can retain salary, which could matter if the Oilers want to keep their best assets intact while still upgrading the Nurse pair.
There are other names being tossed around, like Luke Schenn of the Winnipeg Jets, Andrew Peeke of the Boston Bruins, Nick Perbix of the Nashville Predators, and Rasmus Ristolainen of the Philadelphia Flyers, but the Oilers can’t afford many misses if they’re trying to stabilize the blue line quickly.
If Murphy is truly available and the cost stays reasonable, he feels like the kind of “boring but perfect” add that can help how Edmonton defends when the games tighten up.
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