Oilers Ready to Push Darnell Nurse to a Trade

The Edmonton Oilers are moving to take control of Darnell Nurse’s future, preparing to pressure the veteran defenseman into accepting a trade. With one year remaining before his no-trade clause becomes a 10-team list, the Oilers are signaling that 2026-27 is Nurse’s final opportunity to influence his destination. If he refuses, the team will proceed with a trade this summer or next.

Nurse, 31, signed an eight-year, $74 million contract extension with the Oilers in 2021. That deal includes a full no-movement clause that expires after the 2026-27 season. The Oilers have long struggled to move Nurse due to this clause, but recent developments suggest they are ready to act.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman explained on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast that the Oilers have taken a different approach this year. Last season, the team publicly asked Nurse if he would consider a trade, which he denied and was upset about. This time, they held off. “This is the last year you have control, do you want to work with us or not?” Friedman said the Oilers are likely to tell Nurse.

Nurse’s 2025-26 season was his worst in years. He recorded just 22 points in 82 games and was a minus-14 in even-strength play, per Natural Stat Trick. His ice time dropped from 24 minutes per game in 2023-24 to 20 minutes per game last season, as the Oilers shifted their defensive structure.

The Oilers are now in a position to trade Nurse without resistance. A team willing to absorb $18.5 million in cap hit over three years would be ideal for Edmonton, which is looking to retool for the 2027 playoffs. Nurse’s contract includes $18.25 million in cap hit for the next three seasons.

Nurse could be a fit for a contender in need of a top-four defender. He has averaged 43 points per 82 games over his career and has been a reliable penalty killer. However, his age and recent performance make him a risk for some teams.

With the trade market heating up and the 2026-27 season approaching, the Oilers are expected to make a move. Nurse has four years left on his contract, and a trade could happen as early as the 2026 NHL Draft in July.