Connor Murphy, 33, Secured a Five-Year, $20.5 Million Contract and the Oilers Aren't Done Spending

Alright, Seattle, you gotta see what's happening north of the border! The Edmonton Oilers are out here making moves, and they are NOT messing around with their offseason spending. Just yesterday, the news dropped that veteran defenseman Connor Murphy, a guy who's already 33 years old, just locked down a five-year contract worth a cool $20.5 million. Seriously, five years for a 33-year-old D-man? That’s a bold play, and it tells you everything you need to know about how Edmonton is approaching this summer. They are ready to commit serious cash, and honestly, the league is watching.

Edmonton's Big Bet on a Veteran Blue Liner

Let's dive into this Murphy deal because it's a head-scratcher for some, but clearly Edmonton sees something. Murphy, who just turned 33, signed this monster deal on Monday. He only joined the Oilers back in March 2 via a trade with Chicago, and in those 20 games with Edmonton, he put up four points. Not exactly a highlight reel, right? But hey, that's just a taste. For the entire 2025-26 season, combining his time with the Blackhawks and Oilers, Murphy tallied 17 points, split between five goals and 12 assists, in 80 games played. Looking at his whole career, the guy's been around. Since 2013, he’s skated in 825 career games with the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes, Blackhawks, and now the Oil

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ers. He's got 177 points to his name, with 48 goals and 129 assists, plus a hefty 560 penalty minutes. He's a veteran, no doubt, but that's a long-term commitment for a player entering the later stages of his career. Are the Oilers betting on experience and locker room presence, or do they truly believe his best years are still ahead? It's a gamble, pure and simple.

The Oilers Are Emptying the Wallet, What's Next?

Here’s where it gets even crazier and really paints a picture of Edmonton's offseason strategy. Murphy's five-year, $20.5 million deal wasn't even the first big contract they dished out this week! This news dropped just one day after the Oilers signed forward Jason Dickinson to his own five-year contract, worth $20 million. Yeah, you read that right: two five-year deals back-to-back, totaling a whopping $40.5 million committed to two players in their early to mid-30s. This isn't just one isolated signing; it's a clear pattern. The Oilers are flexing some serious financial muscle and making it known they're going all-in. What does this mean for the rest of their roster, and what other big splashes are they planning? The offseason is just heating up, and these early moves from Edmonton are definitely something to keep an eye on. As Seattle fans, we know how critical smart cap management and long-term planning are. We'll be watching closely to see how these big bets pay off for our Pacific Division rivals.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.