As negotiations intensify, the Oilers sign the largest defenseman available on the trade market: According to Friedman

Elliotte Friedman reports that the Edmonton Oilers and their coach Kris Knoblauch are seriously talking to Chicago about acquiring defenseman Connor Murphy.

With the March 6 deadline approaching, general manager Stan Bowman is hoping to find a familiar player to boost a defense that hasn’t been very dependable.

Murphy, who is 32 years old and well-regarded for his defense, costs $4.4 million against the salary cap and has been on the Oilers’ radar for nearly two years.

Currently, Edmonton ranks 3rd in the Pacific Division with 66 points, but they struggle with allowing too many goals. Murphy has the “strong skills” and penalty-killing ability that Knoblauch needs to support a goaltending team facing some challenges.

The 6-foot-4 defender has performed well for the Blackhawks, recording 84 blocked shots and 58 hits in 58 games this season. His ability to handle the defensive zone would allow Evan Bouchard and Darnell Nurse to concentrate more on moving the puck and scoring.

Chicago is said to be open to covering part of Murphy’s salary, which would be a “big help” for the Oilers, who are tight on budget.

The trade would likely involve sending a mid-round draft pick and a young player back to Chicago.

Are the Edmonton Oilers ready to invest more money for an experienced player?

This decision makes a lot of sense for a team that clearly wants to succeed right away. Murphy has been a reliable defender throughout his career, which is just what Bowman needs to fill the gap from the injured Mattias Janmark’s defense.

With changes already done to the second scoring line, figuring out the best four defense pairs is the final thing they need to do. Adding a skilled right-handed player who can handle penalty kills could be the key to preventing them from losing in the first round and possibly making a deep run in the playoffs.

Friedman’s latest news shows that conversations have moved forward from just the starting talks. If both sides can come to an agreement on how much of Murphy’s pay will be taken care of, he could be wearing an Oilers jersey before the game on Tuesday’s trip.