Story byJim ParsonsWed, March 4, 2026 at 5:26 AM UTC·3 min readThe Edmonton Oilers' newest acquisition, Connor Murphy, is embracing a fresh start — even if the trade came as a bit of a surprise. Murphy spoke with Edmonton media on Tuesday and walked everyone through how the trade happened, why Edmonton was on his list of top places to go, and where he believes he'll fit in the lineup. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTrending Stories:Oilers Aren't Accepting Any Excuses For Recent PerformanceOilers Setting Up For Move: Place Mangiapane and Regula on WaiversOilers Have "Already Made Their Move", Says Insider About Deadline PlanHe started by saying he was enjoying an off day in Winnipeg with teammates, taking part in a team spa outing, when he first learned something might be brewing. His agent reached out to inform him that discussions were underway, though nothing was certain. Within an hour, the deal was finalized.“It was a lot of emotions and a lot of excitement,” Murphy said, describing the whirlwind moment he learned he was headed to Edmonton. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe veteran defenseman comes over after several seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he carved out a reliable role focused heavily on penalty killing and defensive-zone assignments.