In Hindsight: The Nurse Deal That Never Stood a Chance

Earlier in the offseason, the Edmonton Oilers traded away Darnell Nurse. Nurse was still signed for four more years at $9.25 million AAV. I want to look back at why this contract was signed and what might have happened if certain other factors played out differently. Nurse is now gone, so let’s take a look at how this all came about.

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Management’s handling of Darnell Nurse played a significant role in his eventual exit. Former GM Peter Chiarelli initially signed the defenseman to a bridge deal, and when Ken Holland took over in 2020, he followed the same approach. With more consistency in the front office, Nurse might have received a long-term extension earlier.

In 2018, Nurse signed a two-year deal worth $3.2 million AAV. When that contract expired, management opted for another bridge deal—this time a two-year contract at $5.6 million AAV. While bridge deals can sometimes work, teams are often better off locking up young, developing players to long-term extensions before they break out.

Nurse Breakout

In the 2020-21 season, Nurse had his breakout season. In a shortened campaign, Nurse had 36 points in 56 games, including 16 goals. This is still Nurse’s career high, as his shooting percentage that season was through the roof for a defenceman at 10.4%. Outside of that season, Nurse’s highest shooting percentage season is 5.9%. It is never good practice to sign a player after an unsustainable shooting percentage season, but when Nurse was eligible for an extension, former GM Ken Holland did just that.

On August 6th, 2021, Holland would sign Nurse to an eight-year deal worth $9.25 million AAV. Rumors swirled at the time about a four-year deal, but eventually the two went max term, keeping Nurse signed to the Oilers until the 2029-30 season. Nurse was 26 at the time, a great age to receive an eight-year pact, but the problem was Nurse was paid to reproduce an impossible season, and that never came to fruition.

External Factors

Other big-name defenseman signings around the league also played a major role. Dougie Hamilton, Zach Werenski, Cale Makar, and Seth Jones—who Nurse was inevitably but wrongly compared to—each signed contracts or extensions of at least six years and $9 million per season. Notably, current Oilers GM Stan Bowman traded for and signed Jones to an eight-year deal worth $9.5 million AAV just nine days before Nurse signed, effectively helping set the market for Nurse and his agent.

These deals established a clear benchmark for a defenseman of Nurse’s age and experience. Compounding matters, Oscar Klefbom—the Oilers’ top left-shot defenseman—was dealing with chronic shoulder injuries. Klefbom was on a team-friendly $4.167 million AAV contract, but concerns about his availability created urgency for Edmonton to replace his minutes and compensate Nurse accordingly. Klefbom ultimately never played another NHL game, retiring in 2024, which only increased expectations tied to Nurse’s $9.25 million AAV deal.

Given these factors, it’s understandable why Ken Holland committed to Nurse when he did and at that price point. While Nurse’s shooting percentage may have raised some concerns, it was difficult to argue his value was significantly below comparable contracts at the time. With Klefbom’s situation adding pressure, the Oilers needed to secure a long-term, left-shot No. 1 defenseman—and Nurse fit that role.

What If?

What if the Oilers had waited, letting Nurse play out the second year of his bridge deal before signing him to an eight-year extension? In 2021- 22, Nurse played in 71 games, putting up 35 points and finishing with nine goals. His shooting percentage came down to normal, finishing the season at 4.4%. After a season like this, Nurse still would have had good value, but it would have been a far cry from the $9.25 million he received. I believe Nurse would’ve still signed long-term, but more in the $5.5-6.5 million AAV range, saving the Oilers a lot on the cap.

This would’ve been compounded even more if Klefbom had never gotten his shoulder injury and been forced into retirement. If Klefbom was still around in 2021-22, he would have still been playing top line and top power play. Nurse would have played fewer minutes, settling into a second-pair role, which ended up being perfect for his skill set. With Nurse playing less and not being forced into being the top defenceman, it would’ve been even harder for him to justify getting a lot more money than Klefbom’s $4.167 million.

Having Nurse signed for $6 million AAV would’ve given the Oilers a lot more flexibility. In the 2024 and 2025 Cup runs, would that extra money have made the difference? I think it would’ve gone a long way, and the Oilers might be sitting here with a Cup win from at least one of the last three seasons.

In the end, Nurse was a good Oiler — a 12‑season pillar who gave the team stability, minutes, and commitment. In a different world, with a smaller cap hit and fewer expectations tied to it, he probably stays in Edmonton and enters his 13th season as a respected veteran rather than a lightning rod. A more modest deal would have quieted the noise, softened the criticism, and allowed fans to appreciate what he brought instead of what he didn’t. But that isn’t how it played out, and now Nurse begins a new chapter in San Jose, leaving behind a contract that shaped an era and a legacy that will always spark debate in Edmonton.

Next: In Hindsight: The Chaos That Lost the Oilers 2 First‑Round Talents