33-Year-Old Connor Murphy Landed a $20.5 Million Deal and the League Is Definitely Watching
Whoa, did you guys see what just went down in Edmonton? The Oilers just shelled out some serious cash, locking up veteran defenseman Connor Murphy to a five-year, $20.5 million contract on Monday. Five years, twenty point five million for a 33-year-old D-man? That’s a move that makes you raise an eyebrow, even if it’s not our Kraken making the splash. But hey, it shows you the kind of commitments teams are making right now across the league to try and make some noise. It feels like everyone is trying to build something big, and the Oilers are clearly all-in on their guy.Big Money for a Veteran Blue Liner
Let's break this down a bit because those numbers are pretty wild. Murphy, at 33, just secured a deal that takes him well into his late 30s. His recent numbers with the Oilers, after that March 2 trade from Chicago, saw him put up four points in 20 games. Not exactly lighting the world on fire, right? But the Oilers clearly saw something in those games, enough to commit some serious long-term dough. For the full 2025-26 season, between his time with the Blackhawks and Edmonton, Murphy tallied 17 points, split between five goals and 12 assists, across 80 games. That's a solid, steady presence, but the length and value of this contract at his age? It’s a bold play, no doubt.
Murphy's Career and Edmonton's Strategy
When you look at Murphy's entire career, he’s definitely a guy who brings a ton of experience. We're talking 825 career games, having played for the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes from 2013-17, then the Blackhawks from 2017 all the way up to his trade to the Oilers in 2026. He’s racked up 177 points over that time, with 48 goals and 129 assists, plus 560 penalty minutes. That’s a lot of mileage, a lot of battles fought. It speaks to a certain type of durability and reliability. What’s even more interesting is this big Murphy signing comes hot on the heels of another significant move for Edmonton. Just one day earlier, they inked forward Jason Dickinson to his own five-year, $20 million contract. So, the Oilers are clearly in a mode of securing their veteran core with long-term commitments, throwing around big money to keep their roster intact.
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What This Means for the Rest of the League
These kinds of moves, even outside of our own Emerald City teams, are always fascinating to watch. The Oilers are making big, long-term investments in seasoned players, clearly hoping these vets can carry them deep. With Murphy and Dickinson both getting five-year deals back-to-back, it's a clear statement from Edmonton about their strategy moving forward. It’s early in the calendar for these kinds of splashy signings, but it sets a tone. Other teams are surely watching, figuring out how to balance veteran experience with future planning. You gotta wonder if this is a trend we'll see more of as teams try to build a winner. Get ready, because the league is definitely heating up, and we'll be here for every single minute of it!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.