The 2026 off-season has been full of trade requests and many more to follow, of players who have had longtime tenure's with their respective clubs. Darnell Nurse is the next addition of the trade request as his party and the Oilers mutually agreed it was time for a change of scenery for both sides.
Nurse has a 3-5 team trade list that he has provided the Edmonton Oilers with that has team's he would wave his NMC to be traded to. In a unverified report, it was said that the Los Angeles Kings and the Pittsburgh Penguins were among two of the teams that he would waive his clause for.
In a verified report, stated that Nurse's preference is to be traded to the Eastern Conference and out of Canada to play for an American team. Which all but confirms that Pittsburgh could be a destination. Another team that is interested is the Philadelphia Flyers and that was confirmed on Friday, Nurse has some ties with Philly.
When it comes to Nurse as a player, his production and on ice player has dipped significantly as each year passes. For one thing, he is not worth the money he makes and the cap hit diminishes every mistake he makes during every game and Canadian media and NHL fans are not afraid to jump on Nurse.
Nurse in more sheltered minutes could be less pressure of the player but in order for Edmonton to unload him, they will have to retain part of his contract, probably throw in a sweetener like a pick or prospect or both. A team would have to make it work cap wise in order to make it happen.
Darnell Nurse's best years are behind him as he is on the wrong side of 31. He currently carries a cap hit of $9,250,000 with four years remaining on his current eight year deal he signed back in 2021.
Nurse is two games away from breaking the 800 GP plateau in his career. He has never cemented a 50 point season and takes a lot of penalties. Nurse has gone to two Stanley Cup Finals and has playoff experience under his belt.
Pittsburgh aren't really in a spot to take on Darnell Nurse and really don't need his services as they have Jake Livanavage and cap space to acquire a better defenseman for the left side.
Kyle Dubas did fleece Stan Bowman for Stuart Skinner when he sent Tristan Jarry with no retained salary to Edmonton. Time will tell of course but it just doesn't make sense.
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