Nurse Trade Stalled: Status Update as Limited List Creating Headaches for Bowman and Oilers

The Darnell Nurse trade is going nowhere fast — and the reason isn’t terribly complicated. Take an overpriced defenseman and try to shop him to only three teams. What you get is a small market that is dealing with its own business, all while they know the Edmonton Oilers are in a pinch. The end result is that GM Stan Bowman has almost no room to maneuver.

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According to Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast, Nurse’s no-movement clause list includes Boston, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, with Anaheim also (maybe) in the mix. As of now, it’s officially three. And even if it’s four, none of the destinations have come together cleanly. The Oilers are running out of easy options and have asked Nurse to expand his list, which he’s yet to do.

Where Things Stand With Each Team Involved In Nurse Trade Talks

Pittsburgh was the closest thing to a live deal, but it fell apart because Edmonton would have had to retain salary — something the Oilers flatly refused.

Boston has interest, but cap constraints mean things need to happen on their end before a deal is even possible.

Philadelphia’s interest is described as genuine. They seem open to doing the deal without retention, but Philly money has to go out before Nurse money can come in. They are trying to move Rasmus Ristolainen, but are having issues of their own in doing so.

And Anaheim, perhaps the cleanest destination financially, remains on hold — Nurse has not yet agreed to waive his no-movement clause for the Ducks.

David Pagnotta added on Hello Hockey that a potential Anaheim deal would involve no salary retention from Edmonton, while a Philadelphia trade may include a modest retained amount. The Oilers are also reportedly pushing Nurse to expand his list beyond its current parameters. So far, he hasn’t budged.

Where Do The Two Sides Go From Here?

Three or four teams sound like options, but each one has a condition attached. Pittsburgh wants retention. Boston needs to clear space. Philly needs to move salary first. Anaheim isn’t approved yet. Every destination has a catch, and with Bowman unable to create a competitive bidding environment, Edmonton’s leverage shrinks by the day.

Nurse is entitled to choose his destination, but a restricted list in a complicated market is making what should be a straightforward trade feel increasingly messy. Something needs to give — and soon.

Nurse has signing bonuses on his deal that reduce the actual money owed to him. Key to note here is that his bonus is not paid on July 1. It is paid in November, December, and February. July 1 has zero bearing on money owed.

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