Oilers 2025-26 Report Cards: Connor Murphy

As the offseason rolls on, so do the Edmonton Oilers’ player grades. The last report card was given to Evan Bouchard, and now we turn our attention to one of the newest Oilers, Connor Murphy.

The Oilers acquired Murphy before the 2026 Trade Deadline for a second-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft, and he was exactly as advertised. This was one of the best deals general manager Stan Bowman made since he was hired in July 2024. He didn’t give up much and acquired a legitimate top-four defenceman.

Murphy spent most of his time alongside Darnell Nurse, and that pairing was solid. When that duo was on the ice at 5-on-5, the Oilers outshot their opponents 119-96, outchanced them 119-116, and outscored them 8-6 in 289:13 of ice time.

They were a serviceable pair, which alleviated some of the pressure off Jake Walman. Walman moved down to the third pair and took on a lesser role, which spread the wealth. Murphy’s inclusion provided a massive boost to the defence core in need of reinforcements. He added to their depth and pushed Spencer Stastney out of the top six.

2025-26 Performance

Murphy isn’t a flashy player, but he is a defensive-minded defenceman who filled a void. In 20 regular-season games, he had one goal and four points with a plus-1 rating, averaging 20:27 per game. He also led the team in blocked shots since his acquisition with 51, 14 more than the next best.

He also provided some offence in the playoffs, scoring two goals and adding an assist in six games. He had 15 blocked shots and a plus-3 rating, averaging 21:17 per game in the postseason. This was his first real taste of playoff hockey, as his only other appearance was in the bubble with no fans during the 2019-20 season. Despite an early exit, he had a very solid postseason, especially at 5-on-5.

He was a part of the NHL’s best penalty kill when he was a member of the Blackhawks. Unfortunately, the Oilers’ penalty kill was awful against the Anaheim Ducks in the playoffs, leading to their elimination.

Murphy was much better on the penalty kill in the regular season. He played 41:22 shorthanded in the regular season with Edmonton and was on the ice for five goals against. However, in only 12:07 of shorthanded ice time in the playoffs, he was on the ice for four goals against. That discrepancy was jarring. Hopefully, a full season playing with the same players will develop chemistry and comfort, leading to a better penalty kill.

What’s Murphy’s Future?

The Oilers have many decisions to make this offseason, and Murphy is one of them. The 33-year-old is an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1 after finishing a four-year deal with a $4.4 million cap hit.

He should be the organization’s top priority to bring back. The veteran blueliner was a great addition and was exactly what they needed. If they lose him in free agency, that would create a gaping hole on the back end, which would need to be filled. The upcoming free agent class isn’t strong, and trading for another top-four defenceman would cost valuable assets. Therefore, it would be best to sign Murphy rather than look for a replacement. Hopefully, he returns on a reasonable contract, because the Oilers can’t afford to overpay for any more players.

Overall Grade

Murphy provided a lot to this group that won’t show up on the scoresheet. His inclusion made the team better. Even though they didn’t go on another deep playoff run, he had crucial playoff moments.

He was an important penalty-killer but also posted solid 5-on-5 metrics. He had 50.74 percent of the shots and a goals-for percentage of 50. He essentially broke even, which is respectable for a defensive defenceman.

Therefore, he deserves a C+ for his campaign. He could’ve been in the Bs, but his playoff penalty-killing statistics brought down his overall grade. While the penalty kill struggles aren’t solely his fault, he needed to be better in that regard. If he were, the Oilers would likely still be playing.

Keep following The Hockey Writers as we continue the Oilers’ player report cards throughout the offseason.

Advanced stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick.