If Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman feels the same way about Darnell Nurse that he did at this past trade deadline, then he's surely contemplating trading the team's longest serving defenseman. It's a tall order for a team that has already sold a lot of their future chasing Stanley Cups over the past few seasons, and not only because of Nurse's $9.25 million/year contract.
The eight year deal, signed by former GM Ken Holland, is half over, so term becomes less of an issue as time progresses, but as of the 2026-27 season, Nurse will still have a full No Movement clause, meaning he gets to limit the potential destinations to places he wants to go, and also if he goes at all. That NMC because a limited No Movement clause as of next summer, and Nurse can no longer veto trades outright at that time, only limit his new team to ten preferred locations.
Value for money
Some of the comparables for Nurse's deal, in terms of dollar value at the time of signing, don't paint a great picture. Cale Makar and Zach Werenski are in the Norris Trophy conversation every season and it seems the GMs who signed those deals were wise to do so. The closest comparable player, and one who has been traded recently, is Seth Jones. We can examine this deal to get an idea of assets out and in for a potential trade scenario.
To Florida Panthers:
- Seth Jones (D)- 25% salary retention
- 2026 4th round pick
To Chicago Blackhawks:
- Spencer Knight (G)
- Conditional 2026 1st round pick
Jones is one year older, and has played a more significant powerplay role over the course of his career, but their head-to-head comparison is otherwise quite close. Similarly durable, neither one misses many games over a given season. Their average ice time is within a minute of one another, and while Nurse's overall offense is a rung lower, Jones' career plus/minus is absolutely atrocious.
Different needs
The Oilers cannot retain 25% on a Nurse trade. It defeats the purpose of trading him, because the team's need is the salary cap flexibility gained by offloading the overpayment. That changes the equation entirely. A team agreeing to pay full price Nurse's remaining years will definitely factor that into the return they're willing to provide.
That likely turns a 1st round return into a 2nd or 3rd pick, or lowers the quality of any roster player coming the Oilers' way in the deal. In "win now" mode for the next two seasons, the Oilers aren't going to be particularly concerned about a draft pick, but the hard truth is that someone is going to have to step into the playing minutes that Nurse will leave behind. If that defenseman is a significant downgrade, then the dollars saved won't matter.
Add us as a preferred source on Google