As the NHL trade deadline approaches, the Edmonton Oilers are looking for solutions to shore up their defense and goaltending, particularly their struggling penalty kill. Currently sitting 26th in the league with a 76.9% penalty-killing rate, the Oilers may find a valuable asset in Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy.

Murphy, a right-shot defenseman, is known for his steady, physical play and shot-blocking ability, making him a prime candidate to improve Edmonton's special teams. According to advanced statistics from HockeyStatCards, Murphy ranks among the top penalty-killing defensemen in the league, placing him in the 90th percentile with 23.35 expected penalty kill goals against. Overall, he is in the 80th percentile with just 30.52 expected goals against.

The Blackhawks, amidst a rebuild and rich with young defensive talent, might be willing to part with Murphy, who is on an expiring contract. Wyatt Kaiser, Artyom Levshunov, and Louis Crevier are all vying for ice time, with Alex Vlasic also capable of playing on the right side, making Murphy expendable. This situation presents an opportunity for the Oilers to acquire a seasoned defenseman while the Blackhawks gain assets for their future. Oilers General Manager Stan Bowman previously brought Murphy to Chicago from the Phoenix Coyotes.

Acquiring Murphy would likely require some salary cap maneuvering by Edmonton. Frank Seravalli noted that the acquisition of Murphy would likely start with a first-round pick. Mark Lazerus of The Athletic reported that the Blackhawks are willing to retain salary on a deal. While the team can't retain salary on both Ryan Donato and Murphy, they could save an additional $1.2 million if they retain some of Murphy's $4.4 million cap hit.

While the Oilers' power play remains a league-leading strength at 31.4 percent, their defense needs improvement, as they are giving up 3.29 goals per game, ranking 25th in the NHL. The addition of a player like Murphy could help limit scoring chances and provide stability on the blue line.

Other potential trade targets for the Oilers include Ryan Donato. The Blackhawks have a top-ranked penalty kill despite struggling to stay in the playoff race. Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev are also potential trade targets.