The Edmonton Oilers have been undergoing an offseason of change, firing head coach Kris Knoblauch after being ousted in the first round of the playoffs.
On Thursday, a new development threw another headache in Edmonton's way, as veteran defenseman Darnell Nurse formally requested a trade.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and Mark Spector first reported that Nurse, who has spent his entire NHL career in Edmonton, informed the organization that he believes it is time for a fresh start. The move follows a disappointing season that followed back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Final.
According to The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, the situation progressed quickly later on the day, to the point where a few of Nurse's preferred destinations are beginning to emerge as part of the defenseman's no-trade list.
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“According to Friedman and Mark Spector, the Nurse camp have given the Oilers a list of three-to-five teams he would waive his no-movement clause for,” Pagnotta wrote. “As per sources, TFP has learned the Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings are two teams he would be willing to sign off for, and the connections seem clear as to why.”
Per Pagnotta, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings appear as early front-runners to land Nurse, largely because of existing connections to him.
Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas worked with Nurse in junior hockey, while Kings general manager Ken Holland signed him to his current contract when he was at the helm of the Oilers.
Nurse’s contract will play a key role in any potential deal. The 31-year-old carries a $9.25 million annual cap hit through 2030 and holds a full no-trade clause until 2027, giving him significant control over where he lands.
“There are a lot of moving parts here and a trade is not yet considered imminent, but it seems likely … that Nurse would be lacing up his skates with another club to start the 2026-27 NHL campaign,” Pagnotta added.
