The Edmonton Oilers locked in some defensive stability on their blueline when they re-signed Connor Murphy to a five-year deal in June worth $4 million per season.

Murphy was acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks just before the trade deadline last March. In just over a month, Oilers fans got a glimpse of what he brought to the back end, including his solid defensive play, reliable first pass, and willingness to stand up for his teammates.

The 2011 IIHF Men’s U18 World Championship was held in Germany, where Murphy and Team USA advanced to the gold medal game against Sweden.

The Americans erased a two-goal deficit in the third period to tie the game and force overtime. During the extra session, Murphy received the puck at the point and fired a shot toward the net. Although his initial attempt was blocked, he collected the rebound and buried it for the game-winning goal, helping Team USA capture the gold medal.

Additionally, in an interview with Jason Gregor last March, Murphy described what scoring that game-winning tally meant for him: “That was something that helped me get drafted. That was a big moment to have as a youth player, to kind of come up in a big moment and give yourself some confidence.”

After being selected 20th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2011 NHL Draft out of the USHL, the highly touted American defenceman had a big choice to make regarding where he would play the following season.

Murphy narrowed down his options to two places: Miami University, whose main campus is located in Oxford, Ohio, not far from where he was raised, and the OHL’s Sarnia Sting.

The blueliner, who was 18 years old at the time, ultimately chose Sarnia, a unique route for an American defenceman. Reflecting on the difficult choice, Murphy told NHL.com, “It was a really hard decision, especially because I love Miami so much. I still do.” He added, “I grew up right there. I still love the school.”

But after visiting Sarnia and meeting with the coaches and GM, he chose Sarnia because he believed the OHL offered the best path toward becoming an NHL defenceman.

That said, Murphy quickly became a pillar on Sarnia’s blue line. Over two seasons, he played in 68 regular-season games, recording 44 points (14 goals, 30 assists). Also, fun fact — Murphy played with former Oiler Nail Yakupov in Sarnia during the 2011-12 campaign, before Yakupov was selected first overall by Edmonton in the 2012 NHL Draft.

Some players have to wait a long time to score their first-ever NHL goal, such as former NHL defenceman David Hale, who holds the record for the longest wait to score a goal in his NHL career at 230 games. For Murphy, the wait was much shorter.

Murphy made his NHL debut during the 2013-14 season. In his first-ever NHL game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the blueliner scored his first NHL goal after receiving a pass from Radim Vrbata and shooting the puck past backup goaltender Anders Lindbäck.

Scoring in your first NHL game is a difficult feat, and it’s even more challenging for a defenceman to accomplish. After burying his first NHL goal, Murphy described his reaction with Arizona Sports in 2013, “I think I almost broke my hand punching the ice; I was so excited.”

The King Clancy Memorial Trophy is presented annually to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice while making a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in their community.

When Murphy was a member of the Chicago Blackhawks, he was the team’s nominee for the award for five consecutive seasons because of his community contributions.

NHL.com’s Carter Baum wrote about Murphy’s generous contributions, stating in 2024, “Throughout the rigors of an NHL season, [Murphy] often puts others before himself and is always willing to lend a hand and offer his time to help others.”

Baum also wrote that throughout the 2023-24 season, the blueliner visited police and fire stations throughout Chicago, surprising staff with lunch and engaging with first responders and frontline workers, and he was often accompanied by his wife, Kristina.

Murphy made a point of recognizing first responders who demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication by rewarding them with a memorable Blackhawks game experience as a thank-you for their service. He also volunteered with teammates at a local children’s hospital and the Ronald McDonald House, where he donated an air hockey table and spent time connecting with children and their families.

When Connor Murphy stepped onto the ice for his first NHL game in 2013, he continued the legacy established by his father, Gord Murphy, who enjoyed a 16-season NHL career as a reliable defenceman.

Gord was selected in the ninth round of the 1985 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers, where he played four seasons, before spending six seasons with the Florida Panthers and making stops with the Boston Bruins and Atlanta Thrashers.

Much like Connor, Gord was a steady, defensive-minded blueliner who played in 862 NHL games, registering 323 points (85 goals, 238 assists), before hanging up his skates after the 2001-02 season. Following his playing career, Gord became an assistant coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets, serving in the role from 2003 to 2010.

Additionally, during Gord’s time coaching the Blue Jackets, a young Connor got to spend plenty of time around NHL locker rooms. In a 2019 interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, he reflected on the experience, saying, “My dad coached there for eight years, so I grew up running around the dressing room and I was all into it.”

He also mentioned that he collected sticks from Blue Jackets players like Mike Peca and Trevor Letowski.

That said, the exposure to the NHL lifestyle at an early age could have played a role in shaping Connor’s future. As it stands, Connor has played in 825 regular-season games, while his father finished his career with 862. Together, the Murphys have played a combined 1,687 NHL regular-season games, while quietly building one of the most impressive father-son NHL résumés in league history.

Looking ahead, with the Oilers’ schedule recently released, Connor is expected to surpass his father’s games played total on Dec. 19 against the Utah Mammoth, barring anything that gets in the way.

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