"Yeah it's really exciting," Murphy said Wednesday. "I mean, it's something going into the summer I didn't even realize it was going to be a possibility, and as we got going into it when it came up, it was just super exciting to be able to do this and just be here. Chicago has felt like home to me now for years and it was a no-brainer to want to be here as long as I can afterwards. I just want to be a part of this team and organization and community."
The 28-year-old defenseman has one season remaining on the six-year contract he signed with the Arizona Coyotes on July 28, 2016. He scored 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 50 games last season, his fourth with Chicago after being acquired in a trade for Niklas Hjalmarsson on June 23, 2017.
"When we acquired Connor in the summer of 2017, we had visions of him growing as both a player and leader in our organization for many years," Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said. "He has transformed into a defenseman capable of matching up with the opponents' best players and someone we trust to help us preserve a lead in the final minutes. Connor's voice carries weight in our locker room as a veteran presence, and we're thrilled that his development and leadership will continue as a Blackhawk."
Murphy said he's pleased to make a long-term commitment to Chicago.
"As a player, you do always want longevity as long as you can," he said, "because there's always the unknown with injuries and with things that come up. You want to be able to be in one city for as long as you can. There's that. But I think this is a good number; to have five years to put me at 34 when the deal is up and to be able to have my prime years here, to be able to play my best and help out as much as I can."
Selected by the Phoenix Coyotes with the No. 20 pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, Murphy has scored 110 points (28 goals, 82 assists) in 494 regular-season games with the Coyotes and Blackhawks, and has four assists in nine Stanley Cup Playoff games.
NHL.com staff writer Tracey Myers contributed to this report
