Darnell Nurse and Morgan Rielly Trades Not So Certain?

Darnell Nurse and Morgan Rielly have been two of the more marquee names consistently mentioned in trade rumors this offseason, with the expectation that both veteran defensemen could find new homes after lengthy stints in Edmonton and Toronto.

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While either or both could still be moved, it’s starting to sound as if deals may not be as inevitable as originally thought.

Insider Frank Seravalli broke down Nurse and the Oilers’ situation on Thursday, noting that a trade before Friday’s draft is unlikely.

Seravalli said:

“So Darnell Nurse — a lot of people have been curious in Edmonton what happens next. He gave the Oilers three teams to work with, and best as I can understand, the Nurse situation right now, nothing on the front burner. And Nurse I think is a tertiary option for a couple of those teams. Not that they’re not interested, but they’re trying to make other things happen first, and if they can’t, then they’re going to come back to the Darnell Nurse file later on. So what I would suggest is unless something changes drastically today, I don’t see Darnell Nurse being moved before Friday night,”

Then came Maple Leafs GM John Chayka making comments that he expects Rielly to be on the team next season, and that new head coach Jim Hiller is excited to work with him.

Luke Fox shared on X (formerly Twitter):

“John Chayka says right now he anticipates Morgan Rielly being on the team. Jim Hiller has been in touch and is excited to work with Rielly,”

The 31-year-old Nurse has four years remaining on the eight-year, $74 million extension he signed in Edmonton in 2021, while Rielly, 32, also has four years left on the eight-year, $60 million extension he inked in Toronto in 2021.

At this point a Nurse trade feels more likely given the fact that he actually requested to be moved whereas Rielly would much prefer to stay put.

That said, interest and urgency don’t appear to be there at the moment, and if that doesn’t change, there remains the possibility that both return to their current teams to start 2026–27.

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