Report: Edmonton Oilers Trading Darnell Nurse

According to Sportsnet's Mark Spector, the Edmonton Oilers will be trying to trade defenceman Darnell Nurse before the start of next season.

Nurse, 31, has four years left on his contract at $9.2 million AAV, and until July of next year, has a full no-movement clause. Nurse holds all the cards, and has yet to be approached by general manager Stan Bowman, but Spector's sources tell him those conversations are coming in the next couple of weeks.

Darnell Nurse and the Edmonton Oilers are headed for a breakup. The clock is ticking on the veteran defenceman’s time in Edmonton, with Nurse holding all the cards for one more season before his current no-trade clause morphs into a 10-team list to which he can dealt. Conversations with several current and former employees all lead to the same place: the Oilers are ready and willing to trade Nurse as soon as they are able. Sources confirm that Oilers GM Stan Bowman will be speaking with Nurse in the coming days about his wishes.

Given the pressure on Bowman to appease Connor McDavid, this trade could be a massive swing in momentum for the franchise. McDavid only has two years left on his contract, and if next season doesn't go as planned, it's quite possible he lets Edmonton know he won't be re-signing, and a trade happens next summer.

At the moment, it's unknown where Nurse is open to playing, and given his contract and production, the Oilers will likely have to retain some of his remaining contract. Nurse doesn't play power play, and last season, appeared in 82 games, scoring seven goals and 24 points.

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