Connor McDavid Speaks Out On Darnell Nurse Trade
Connor McDavid says he is "extremely disappointed" to lose Darnell Nurse, but also praises the Oilers' new additions. pic.twitter.com/jbzhMV7Tb7
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 27, 2026
“It’s obviously disappointing to lose someone like Darnell and the rest of the guys,” McDavid said. “But it’s part of the business, unfortunately. It’s been hard to really put into words what Nurse’s been to not only me, but the whole group and everybody in Edmonton. So, extremely disappointed to see that happen.”
McDavid came into the league 11 years ago, and has been a teammate of Nurse's for his entire career.
McDavid 'extremely disappointed' at Nurse trade
The defenseman had often been the whipping boy of Oilers fans in the past couple of seasons, largely because they felt his $9.25M AAV wasn't supported by his play. The 31-year-old was the subject of trade rumors before he, himself, asked out at the beginning of the offseason.
Of course, the 2026-27 season in Edmonton is all about appeasing McDavid with a team that shows promise of being a Stanley Cup contender. By this time next summer, if the Oilers have underachieved once again, McDavid will be entering the final year of his contract, and a trade could be on the table at that point if he's not happy.
Overall, the greatest player in the world did try to couch his disappointment at Nurse's exit by adding that he's still looking forward to the season that lies ahead.
“At the same time, really excited about some of the additions. New coach, some good players. It’s an exciting time in Edmonton.”