Connor Murphy Contract Talks Heat Up as Oilers Race the Clock on July 1.

The Edmonton Oilers just locked up Jason Dickinson to a five-year deal worth $20 million. That was the easy part. Now they’re turning their attention to another veteran blueliner, and the clock is ticking toward free agency.

According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Oilers and defenseman Connor Murphy are in active negotiations. A team source told Pagnotta Sunday morning, ‘We’re still talking.’ So no deal is imminent, but the conversations are real.

Murphy, 33, came to Edmonton in March via a trade from Chicago. The return? A second-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft. That’s a long way out for a defenseman who might only have a few good years left, but the Oilers clearly saw something they liked.

In 20 regular-season games with Edmonton, Murphy scored once and added three assists. Nothing flashy. But in the playoffs, he stepped up a little — two goals and an assist in six games. Not bad for a guy who was basically a rental at that point.

He was originally drafted 20th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes back in 2011. Played four seasons there before the Blackhawks came calling. Then spent years in Chicago before the trade deadline deal that sent him north.

Murphy’s last contract was a four-year deal signed with the Blackhawks in 2021, kicking in for the 2022-23 season. He’s expected to land north of $3 million per year on his next deal. That feels about right for a reliable second-pairing guy who can kill penalties and isn’t afraid to block shots.

The Oilers have about $13.4 million in cap space right now. But that number shrinks fast when you factor in two restricted free agents and several other UFAs they need to deal with. Murphy is a priority, but he’s not the only one.

And yeah, the timing matters. July 1 is right around the corner. If the Oilers can’t get something done with Murphy soon, they risk losing him to the open market. Or they could pivot to another defender. But the fact that talks are ongoing suggests both sides want to make it work.

Edmonton’s blue line got a lot deeper in March, and Murphy was a big part of that. A physical, steady veteran who can eat minutes and play smart in his own zone. That’s exactly the kind of depth piece a team with Cup aspirations needs. And at $3 million or so, it’s not a cap-crushing number either.

We’ll see if they can get it done before the floodgates open.