Insider Hints at Oilers Doing Something Big Before the Deadline

While it wasn’t the blockbuster some were hoping for, the Edmonton Oilers addressed their biggest need on Monday by acquiring right-shot defenseman Connor Murphy. Better yet, they did so at a relatively low cost — a 2028 second-round pick, with the Blackhawks retaining 50% of his salary

Many believe the Oilers’ focus will now shift to adding a depth forward, preferably a third-line center. While that certainly remains atop their wishlist, one insider is wondering whether GM Stan Bowman has something much bigger up his sleeve.

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Jeff Marek of Daily Faceoff says he’s warming up to the idea of Edmonton making a splash before Friday’s trade deadline, even floating the possibility that they find a way to move Darnell Nurse.

Marek said:

“I’m really getting warmer to the idea that the team we all might be talking about by the time the deadline rolls around on Friday are the Edmonton Oilers. And maybe it’s that blockbuster that no one sees coming, or maybe it’s someone like — this isn’t a report, this is just conversation leading up to the deadline on a Tuesday — so they make the move for Murphy yesterday, you know, do they look at doing something with Darnell Nurse now? Would that be a bomb enough for Friday? Oh yeah, it would. Could that be the next shoe to drop here? Because the closer things get to Friday, there are a lot of people talking about Edmonton doing something significant here,”

The 31-year-old Nurse has tallied 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) through 61 games this season while sporting a -12 rating in the process. He’s in year four of the aforementioned eight-year, $74 million extension signed with the Oilers in 2021, which includes a full no-movement clause through 2026–27.

A Nurse trade would be extremely difficult to pull off for a multitude of reasons — his $9.25 million contract, full no-movement clause, and relationship with superstars Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the rest of the core players.

That said, his struggles this season in particular must have Bowman exploring all options, and the fact that Marek is even tossing around the idea of Edmonton being able to move Nurse is eye-opening, to say the least.

These types of deals typically go down in the offseason, when teams’ salary-cap pictures are clearer and the player has time to consider accepting a move. However, there are always a few surprise trades during deadline week that nobody truly saw coming — so perhaps this isn’t something that can be completely ruled out until the clock strikes 3 p.m. EST on Friday.

Next: Oilers Predicted to Trade Promising Young Player Before the Deadline