- May 21, 2026
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Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman has a busy summer ahead of him as he looks to build a roster that can capitalize on the two-year contract extension that Connor McDavid signed during the 2025-26 season.
After locking in center Jason Dickinson with a contract extension on Sunday, Bowman has retained another one of his 2026 trade deadline acquisitions, as the team has signed defenseman Connor Murphy to five-year contract extension with a salary cap hit of $4.1 million.
The Oilers originally acquired Murphy in a deal at the trade deadline with the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft. Murphy was slated to be one of the better defensemen available in unrestricted free agency on July 1, but this deal takes his name off that ever-shrinking list of impactful players who will be on the market.
In 20 regular season games in Edmonton after the deal, Murphy recorded four points on a goal and three assists, and he saw his responsibilities increase drastically, going from playing 16:34 per game in Chicago to 20:27 with the Oilers.
Known primarily for his defensive acumen, Murphy flashed some offensive prowess in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, scoring two goals in six games as Edmonton bowed out in the first round with a six-game loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
Murphy’s acquisition had its intended effect on the roster, as the 2.47 expected goals per 60 minutes the Oilers surrendered with Murphy on the ice at 5-on-5 was the second-lowest mark among any Edmonton defenseman who played in over 31 games.
After the extensions given to Dickinson and Murphy, Bowman currently has about $7.4 million in salary cap space with which to make additions to the roster, according to PuckPedia.
That number could grow with a trade of Darnell Nurse, who requested a move out of Edmonton and carries a cap hit of $9.25 million.
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After locking in center Jason Dickinson with a contract extension on Sunday, Bowman has retained another one of his 2026 trade deadline acquisitions, as the team has signed defenseman Connor Murphy to five-year contract extension with a salary cap hit of $4.1 million.
MURPH
The #Oilers have signed defenceman Connor Murphy to a five-year contract with an AAV of $4.1 million. pic.twitter.com/7avMhxiYDt
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 22, 2026
The Oilers originally acquired Murphy in a deal at the trade deadline with the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft. Murphy was slated to be one of the better defensemen available in unrestricted free agency on July 1, but this deal takes his name off that ever-shrinking list of impactful players who will be on the market.
In 20 regular season games in Edmonton after the deal, Murphy recorded four points on a goal and three assists, and he saw his responsibilities increase drastically, going from playing 16:34 per game in Chicago to 20:27 with the Oilers.
Known primarily for his defensive acumen, Murphy flashed some offensive prowess in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, scoring two goals in six games as Edmonton bowed out in the first round with a six-game loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
Murphy’s acquisition had its intended effect on the roster, as the 2.47 expected goals per 60 minutes the Oilers surrendered with Murphy on the ice at 5-on-5 was the second-lowest mark among any Edmonton defenseman who played in over 31 games.
After the extensions given to Dickinson and Murphy, Bowman currently has about $7.4 million in salary cap space with which to make additions to the roster, according to PuckPedia.
That number could grow with a trade of Darnell Nurse, who requested a move out of Edmonton and carries a cap hit of $9.25 million.
Continue reading...