Edmonton Oilers
Darnell Nurse Wanted to Set the Record Straight About His Exit From Oilers
Darnell Nurse spoke with the media in San Jose and talked about his exit from the Edmonton Oilers. He wanted to set the record straight.
New Sharks defenseman Darnell Nurse met with the San Jose media this week, fielding questions about his trade from Edmonton and what led to the end of his tenure with the Oilers. Denying reports that he was unhappy and losing his passion for the game of hockey as a member of the Oilers, Nurse talked about how he’s embracing a fresh start with one of the NHL’s up-and-coming teams.
Sometimes, things just need to change. That was the case for the Oilers and Nurse, who had spent a few seasons toying with the idea of a trade. The Oilers didn’t love that they were spending $9.25 million on the cap for a player who the fan base was making a whipping boy because of his contract. Nurse, likely didn’t love it either. Things came to a head this summer when it was reported the Oilers were going to ask him, for a second time, to consider waiving his no-trade clause. He beat them to the punch.
Nurse asked for a trade before the Oilers could sit him down and say they wanted to move him. He named Boston, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh as possible landing spots, adding the Sharks only when those three teams couldn’t offer anything the Oilers could make sense of. Most believe he made a wise choice, given that the Sharks are pegged to be one of the better, younger teams in the NHL.
Was Nurse Miserable In Edmonton?
One reporter asked Nurse directly whether he viewed this new chapter as a fresh opportunity, pointing to the idea that he may not have been fully himself in his final days in Edmonton. Nurse had often appeared guarded in interviews with Edmonton media, sometimes offering brief, one- or two-word answers.
Nurse pushed back on any suggestion that he’d lost his love for the game.
“Nah, I’ve always loved the game of hockey. It doesn’t matter where you’re playing,” he said. “I love the grind of it. I love every day. I was super fortunate for my time in Edmonton. I had a lot of amazing experiences and friendships that will last a lifetime.”
Still, Nurse acknowledged that his time with the Oilers had simply run its course.
“But ya, it was time for a change,” he said. “For me, it’s a fresh start. I’m looking forward to what I can bring to this group. I think I can bring a lot to the group and make this my new home and make it a big part of my life.”
Nurse now steps into a new role with the Sharks as the team looks to build around its young core, and his comments suggest he’s embracing the opportunity to write a new chapter rather than looking back at how the last one ended. He’ll get several chances this season to play against his old team, returning to Edmonton for the first time on January 13th.
Edmonton fans will get to show their love for the player who gave several good seasons to the Oilers. He’s earned that respect, even if things didn’t go as planned on the way out.
Next: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Blue Jackets, Maple Leafs & Oilers Surprise
Discover more from NHL Trade Talk
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
More News
