Insider Reveals Oilers Offered Darnell Nurse to Maple Leafs for Nicolas Roy

The Edmonton Oilers reportedly tried to swing a blockbuster trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2025 trade deadline, and the details coming out now are pretty significant. According to NHL insider David Pagnotta on OilersNation Everyday, Edmonton GM Stan Bowman made a serious push to move Darnell Nurse to Toronto in exchange for Nicolas Roy.

It’s the kind of idea that would have shifted both teams in a pretty major way heading into the final stretch.

The Proposed Nurse-for-Roy Swap

The Oilers were trying to shake things up and create some cap flexibility so they could improve their roster at the deadline. Nurse has been a mainstay on the Oilers’ blue line for years. But his $9.25-million cap hit has become harder to justify as the team tries to build around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl before their Stanley Cup window closes.

On the other side, Roy was viewed internally as a strong target for the Maple Leafs. Toronto eventually moved him to the Colorado Avalanche in a separate deal, but it appears there was real effort by the Oilers to try and acquire a versatile middle-six centre for Nurse. In the end, Toronto’s previous management group passed, and rightfully so. Not only is Nurse’s contract awful, he would be another version of Morgan Rielly, a defensive liability.

Chayka Unlikely to Revisit Trade this Summer

One of the more interesting parts of this report is from the Maple Leafs’ side and their thoughts on the trade if the Oilers come calling this summer. Pagnotta noted that Toronto’s new general manager, John Chayka, is unlikely to revisit that kind of conversation. His focus is on the 2026 NHL Draft now that Toronto has won the first overall pick. And then after that, trying to figure out the future of Auston Matthews. There is no room in the club for a player with a cap hit the size of Nurse’s.

Chayka has always leaned heavily into process and value efficiency. So, committing close to $10 million a year to a veteran defenceman like Nurse, especially one who finished the year at minus-23 and saw some inconsistency defensively, doesn’t really line up with that approach.

Oilers Will Try to Shop Nurse Again

The fact that Nurse’s name was even circulating at the deadline is a pretty big storyline heading into the summer for the Oilers. It signals that Stan Bowman is at least willing to consider moving parts of their core if it helps create cap space and improve the overall depth of the roster. Edmonton is coming off a disappointing first-round exit at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks, and the pressure to win in Alberta hasn’t really gone anywhere.

If the Oilers are serious about moving Nurse, there are still a few hurdles to clear. His full no-movement clause means he controls a lot of the process. And any trade would likely require either careful destination targeting or some level of salary retention to get teams comfortable with the cap hit. Regardless, it seems that the Oilers do plan on trying to shop Nurse again this summer.