The Edmonton Oilers locked up veteran defenseman Connor Murphy on Monday, handing the pending free agent a five‑year contract worth $20.5 million with an annual average value of $4.1 million. Murphy arrived from Chicago after a mid‑season trade, fitting into Kris Knoblauch’s second defensive pairing alongside Darnell Nurse. The Oilers moved quickly to keep the 33‑year‑old on the roster as the club targets a Conference semifinals berth.

During his 20 games with Edmonton last season, Murphy posted one goal and four points while logging 20:26 of ice time per game. He previously logged 60 games for Chicago before the trade, reaching the 80‑game mark for the second time in his career. His size aids Edmonton’s transition. The veteran brings 14 NHL seasons and five World Championship appearances for Team USA.

Murphy’s previous deal carried a $4.4 million cap hit, so the new contract represents a modest raise while locking him into Edmonton’s long‑term defensive plans. Approaching the 50‑goal career milestone, he sits two goals short, a benchmark that could influence his usage in the upcoming season. Coach Knoblauch praised his reliability. The Oilers now have a seasoned blueliner ready for a deep playoff push.