Oilers News & Rumours: Nurse Trade Request, Babcock Update, Murphy

This has already been one of the most entertaining summers in recent history for the Edmonton Oilers, and it seems to only be getting more interesting.

After relieving Kris Knoblauch of his duties as head coach, plenty of names have been mentioned as potential replacements, including Mike Babcock, while trade rumours have been running rampant.

In this edition of Oilers News and Rumours, we take a look at an official trade request from Darnell Nurse, admitting it’s time to move on. As well, we take a look at updates on the potential hiring of Babcock, and the status of Connor Murphy, who is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA).

Darnell Nurse Requests Trade

Following weeks of speculation, it was revealed that Darnell Nurse had officially requested a trade from the Oilers, and was ready to move on, giving the Oilers a list of teams he would be open to waiving his trade protection for.

Darnell Nurse has requested a trade from the Oilers, per @FriedgeHNIC and @SportsnetSpec. pic.twitter.com/Xv6YfaJN6n

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 11, 2026

Nurse, who is 31 years old, is entering the fifth season of an eight-year contract with a $9.25 million cap hit. Last season, he scored seven goals and added 17 assists for 24 points through 82 games. Throughout his career, he has scored 88 goals and added 236 assists for 324 points through 798 games.

Nurse also has 100 career playoff games under his belt, where he has scored seven goals and added 22 assists for 29 points.

NHL Opens Investigation on Mike Babcock

Darren Dreger recently broke the news that the Oilers were working through things to hire Mike Babcock.

Sources: The Edmtn Oilers are consulting with the NHLPA to see if there are objections that must be resolved before potentially hiring Mike Babcock. Amid allegations of invading players privacy, Babcock resigned in CBJ as Head Coach in 2023. Further investigation may be required.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 8, 2026

Following that news, fans were sent into an uproar. Babcock was released from the head coach position of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 following some allegations, and hasn’t coached since.

Now, the Oilers seem to be moving forward with wanting to bring him back to the NHL, and the league has opened an investigation into Babcock, to decide whether or not the Oilers will be able to hire him, or if further discipline will be handed down.

In an article from Elliotte Friedman, he wrote, “There were reports of issues beyond looking at players’ phones that got Babcock into trouble in Columbus. When he resigned then, the NHL and NHLPA dropped the matter, but sources indicate there was at least one other conversation that caused concern.”

The Oilers seem willing to wait out the investigation before making a decision on their next head coach, but it seems clear, the organization wants to hire Babcock.

Connor Murphy Considering Options

After acquiring him at the 2026 Trade Deadline, the expectation was that the Oilers would like to re-sign pending UFA Connor Murphy, and it seems as though he continues to consider his options.

Edmonton Oilers still very much on UFA Connor Murphy's radar.
Pending coaching search and status of Darnell Nurse both factors in his decision/negotiation.
Not deal breakers, we're told, but factors.

— Mark Spector🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@SportsnetSpec) June 12, 2026

As Mark Spector mentioned in his tweet, it seems as though the Oilers head coaching decision, combined with what ends up happening with Nurse, are factors in his decision.

With Nurse on the move, that could open up a bigger role for Murphy, which could be enticing. However, the wrong hiring behind the bench could change things for him.

We’ll see what happens, but it seems as though there remains a good chance Murphy extends with the Oilers, depending on how the next couple of weeks play out.

As the 2026-27 season approaches, be sure to continue following The Hockey Writers as your source for news, updates, and more from around the NHL and the hockey world.