Oilers Fans Shouldn’t Expect Darnell Nurse to Be Moved Anytime Soon

It’s speculation season in the NHL. The Stanley Cup Final will likely get underway next week, which means the hockey season is almost done, and rumours, free agency, trades, and everything in between will run amok. The Edmonton Oilers will be busy in all facets, and as usual, one name will definitely circulate through the rumour mill. Darnell Nurse always seems to be discussed this time of year, and some fans have strong opinions about why he should leave.

I’m here to temper expectations about the long-time alternate captain going anywhere anytime soon.

Nurse has been with the organization since he was taken seventh overall in the 2013 NHL Draft. He has garnered a reputation over the years as an aggressive defenseman who, although he has made his fair share of mistakes, still serves a top-four defending role for the team. He certainly has his critics, both inside and outside Edmonton, but I think fans need to back off the idea of him being moved in the near future.

Teammates Love Him

Despite what any fan thinks or feels, Nurse seems to have a great reputation inside the Oilers’ locker room. Aside from the fact he wears an “A” on his jersey and is a leader in the group, he clearly is a good team guy and gets along with whoever he’s playing with. A good example is Connor McDavid’s speech when he reached 1,000 NHL points. He mentioned growing up in the NHL, in Edmonton, with Leon Draisaitl and Nurse and how it all led to that special night. That means something.

There are also little things along the way that clearly pin Nurse as a core piece. He was a groomsman in both McDavid and Draisaitl’s weddings, for example. Regardless of any play or anything people may not love him for, there’s a foundation in place that many may never understand. A trade would change more than just the skill set of the roster.

The Stats Aren’t That Bad

Let’s get down to the basics. Yes, things like his on-ice goal differential was among the worst for defencemen in the regular season. I want to take a bit of a closer look, though, as surface-level stats like this can’t tell the story for every player. Nurse ranked ninth among NHL defencemen in shots blocked with 167. He also ranked 17th in hits with 137. Both ranked him first among Oilers defenders.

He also plays big minutes. He ranked inside the top-50 among NHL blueliners in ice time, which is third on the Oilers. He easily plays in the gritty areas and can play any amount of time he is asked, averaging over 20 minutes per game in a full 82 games in 2025-26. He thrived playing alongside pending free agent Connor Murphy, and his stats were definitely supported by that, so the team should take that into account as July 1 nears.

Nurse is also fairly consistent on offence. He put up 24 points this past season, which, although a little low, is still solid for a second-pairing guy. In the seven seasons prior to this recent one, he posted over 30 points. His offence has shown up quite well recently in the IIHF World Hockey Championship, as he is tied for the Team Canada lead in defencemen points (with teammate Evan Bouchard).

It may sound like I’m making the argument to extend Nurse for life, but that’s not the case. These are the simple facts of the situation.

The Bloody Contract

It’s what every argument around Nurse comes back to: his contract. The eight-year, $74 million contract that was signed in the summer of 2021 is a hefty price tag that very few teams can afford without moving some significant money around. Aside from that, there is a no movement clause in place and in 2027, a modified no trade clause that includes a 10-team no trade list comes into effect should the team and player decide to part ways.

In simpler terms, this would be a very complicated move in terms of money and paperwork. Should the Oilers and Nurse even come to terms on moving him, Edmonton is losing that trade anyway, as a first-round pick and potentially more draft capital would be going along with him.

Nurse has value in my eyes, just maybe not to the extent of the contract he has. Nevertheless, the Oilers owe him every cent, and he will likely be with the team for a few more seasons. Here’s to a much-improved 2026-27 season from the veteran defenceman.