The Edmonton Oilers have finally made their move. In a trade that feels like a "last-ditch effort" to save a luckily close-knit season, the Oilers acquired veteran defenseman Connor Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday. The trade call isn't supposed to go through till tonight, when the Oilers have the cap necessary to make …
The Edmonton Oilers have finally made their move. In a trade that feels like a “last-ditch effort” to save a luckily close-knit season, the Oilers acquired veteran defenseman Connor Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday. The trade call isn’t supposed to go through till tonight, when the Oilers have the cap necessary to make it happen.
With Chicago eating half of Murphy’s salary, he will only count for $2.2 million on Edmonton’s cap. This was a necessary move for GM Stan Bowman, who originally brought Murphy to Chicago years ago and knows exactly what the 6’4″ shutdown defender brings to the table.
The Oilers have been desperate for a right-shot defenseman who actually prioritizes defending. While Evan Bouchard leads the league in offensive production from the point, the team has been consistently soft in front of its own net. Murphy isn’t flashy—he has just 13 points in 60 games—but he leads the league’s top-ranked penalty kill in Chicago and isn’t afraid to block shots or clear the crease.
This trade comes at a time when the “Stanley Cup or Bust” dreams in Edmonton are turning into a nightmare. Despite having the best player in the world, the Oilers are struggling to stay relevant in the Pacific Division.
Current Pacific Division Standings (as of March 2, 2026):
The Oilers are currently 3rd in the Pacific, but they are only one point ahead of the Kraken. Even worse, they have played more games than almost everyone around them. Their 76.9% penalty kill is among the league’s worst, and they’ve allowed over 200 goals already this season.
If you want to know why fans are panicking, look no further than the crease. Earlier this season, the Oilers traded for Tristan Jarry to solve their goaltending woes. To say it hasn’t worked would be an understatement.
Jarry has been a disaster in Edmonton, posting a staggering .863 save percentage through 12 games. He was recently pulled after allowing five goals to the Ducks, and the “spark” the team hoped for has vanished. This failure has put immense pressure on GM Stan Bowman and Head Coach Kris Knoblauch. The staff is clearly running out of time, and if Murphy doesn’t provide an immediate boost, major changes could be coming this summer.
Acquiring Connor Murphy is a solid “hockey trade,” but it highlights how much trouble this team is in. They are fighting for their playoff lives, their big goaltending acquisition is a bust, and the defence is a sieve. Murphy is a tough, reliable pro—but he’s going to need to be a miracle worker to fix the mess in Edmonton.
As much as it pains me to say it, the coaching staff in Edmonton is running out of time. In most years, this team would likely not even be in a playoff spot. The Oilers are incredibly lucky to be playing in one of the worst versions of the Pacific Division we’ve ever seen. If the division weren’t in such a poor state, the organization likely would have been forced to make major changes by now.
However, the weak division doesn’t rule out the possibility of head coach Kris Knoblauch running out of room. It always seems to get to this point: the defensive structure vanishes, and Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl end up being dangerously overused just to keep the team afloat.
Currently, the Oilers are 3rd in the Pacific with 66 points (29-24-8). They are narrowly ahead of the Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks, but the underlying numbers are concerning.
The Tristan Jarry move hasn’t worked out as planned so far, with his save percentage sitting at a disappointing .863. While the goaltending isn’t great right now, there’s a decent chance that could change if the team tightens up in front of the net. Do I believe Murphy will help this team a lot defensively? Yes. Do I think they still have a lot of other problems? 100%.
Word is that the Oilers likely have two more trades in them before the deadline. While Murphy stabilizes the back end, the team still desperately needs:
Murphy is a great start, but the work isn’t done if this staff wants to save their jobs—and the season.
