Insider Suggests Oilers & Sharks Could Pull Off Nurse-for-Graf Swap

The Edmonton Oilers did not have the 2025-26 campaign they were hoping for. After two straight runs to the Stanley Cup Final, they were hoping they could finally get back there and win their first Stanley Cup since 1990, but they were eliminated in six games by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round.

As the Oilers prepare for the 2026-27 season, plenty of changes are expected. They already fired Kris Knoblauch and Mark Stuart, and the expectation is that on-ice moves will be coming throughout the summer. One player’s name that has continuously popped up is Darnell Nurse.

Nurse, who has struggled to live up to his massive $9.25 million contract, seems like the player that the Oilers plan to move on from in hopes of freeing up some cap space and spending elsewhere to improve some of their other issues.

In a recent segment with Daily Faceoff, insider Jeff Marek was talking about a potential Nurse trade. Marek mentioned the San Jose Sharks as a potential fit, and considering their need for defensive depth, it makes sense.

Marek wonders if there is a deal to be made between the two teams, sending Nurse to the Sharks, in exchange for one of their young forwards, considering their logjam, and name-dropped Collin Graf as a potential piece going back the other way.

Jeff Marek talks about some options for the Edmonton Oilers, including UPL, Kesselring and Jordan Kyrou

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— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) May 19, 2026

Graf, who is 23 years old, scored 21 goals and added 25 assists for 46 points through 81 games last season. Throughout his career, he has played 121 games, scoring 26 goals and adding 33 assists for 59 points, and has built a reputation as a strong penalty killer.

Sharks fans immediately pushed back against the team trading Graf for Nurse, while fans around the league were shocked to learn that trading Nurse might be able to give the Oilers a solid young player like Graf.

Nurse Deal Likely Costs Oilers a Young Prospect & Picks

Marek was suggesting this deal as a hypothetical, and while he did name-drop Graf as a potential piece that the Oilers could bring back, he was making a point that it simply makes sense for the Sharks to add a veteran defender with playoff experience, and move on from one of their young forwards, especially if they’re lined up to select Ivar Stenberg.

The Oilers still likely have to attach a prospect and a couple of draft picks to move on from Nurse, especially if they’re moving on from him without retention, since his $9.25 million deal is an expensive anchor for any team, and nobody will be willing to help them for free.

Sharks fans seem to prefer that they trade William Eklund instead of Graf, but not in exchange for Nurse. On top of that, Sharks fans seem dead set against their team bringing Nurse in to try and bolster their blue line.

The Sharks have to bring in some new defenders this offseason, and while he may not have lived up to the massive extension he signed, Nurse still has the experience in the postseason that the Sharks will need in their lineup as they push for a playoff spot next season. On top of that, with how young their team is, it doesn’t hurt to have a veteran like Nurse in their lineup to be a leader, and someone who can provide guidance.

As the 2025-26 postseason moves along, be sure to continue following The Hockey Writers as your source for news, updates, and more from around the NHL and the hockey world.