The Misread Trade: Oilers Return for Nurse Better Than Advertised

With Darnell Nurse finally waiving his no-trade clause and being traded this offseason, years of fans crying for a move meant few seemed to care what the Edmonton Oilers got in return. The relief of the cap space was the big win, as it allowed the Oilers to have some flexibility for the first time in years. Nurse also struggled mightily in the last three playoff runs, becoming a major liability that leaked goals at the most important time of the year.

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When the trade was finalized, a wave of joy and relief swept through Edmonton. Fans celebrated—and kept refreshing PuckPedia—as the Oilers suddenly found themselves with cap space for the first time in years.

They quickly put that flexibility to use, signing Ryan Shea as a cost-effective replacement for Nurse on a five-year deal worth $4 million AAV. In goal, Frederik Andersen was brought in to stabilize the position at just $1 million AAV. The team also re-signed fan favorite Kasperi Kapanen to a one-year deal carrying a $2.6 million AAV.

The Forgotten Return

One thing that was continually overlooked was the return for Nurse. The Oilers did get some players back in the deal, and some decent ones at that.

Shakir Mukhamadullin was the main piece of the return. Mukhamadullin is a 24-year-old left-shot defenceman who is 6’4 200 pounds, and has a smooth skating stride. In a lot of ways, he resembles a young Nurse – tall and lanky with wheels. Last season, Mukhamadullin played in a career-high 50 NHL games, ending with 12 points and five goals while averaging 17:09 per game. He was a solid penalty killer for the Sharks, which is an area of need for Edmonton. The young Russian plays very similarly to Nurse, as he likes to jump up in the play and can be a bit chaotic in his own end. He was really starting to come into his own down the stretch for the San Jose Sharks, playing over 20 minutes in three of their final five games.

Mukhamadullin is a former first-round pick of the New Jersey Devils, going 20th overall in 2020. He was used as a trade piece for the Devils, as they moved him in the deal to acquire Timo Meier from the San Jose Sharks. The one great thing about Mukhamadullin is that he can play both sides, routinely playing more games on the right side than on the left. Stan Bowman mentioned this multiple times in his press conference, an interesting tidbit given the Oilers’ look on defense. Here is Stan Bowman discussing Mukhamadullin:

“So first with Mukhamadullin, he’s a big kid. He’s kind of coming into his own right now, and I think there are a few things that really caught our eye with his game. He played more on the right side this year than the left. Even though he’s a left shot, he’s got that long reach; he’s a big frame. He’s pretty skinny right now. I think he can probably put on a little bit of weight, but he takes up a lot of space out there, and we liked his game. His penalty kill is something that I think is a strength for him. He’s got a big shot, and he’s got a competitive side to his game. So I think those things add up to being a really useful player for us. I think we did like the fact that he can be used on the right side if we want to, and that flexibility is always nice. He’s a young defenceman that I think has a lot of growth in his game.”

Young Prospect

The return didn’t stop there. The Oilers also managed to get another young prospect back from the Sharks in Zack Sharp. Sharp is a 21-year-old, 6’1 180-pound, left-shot defenceman. He was a 4th-round pick of the Sharks in 2024, drafted 124th overall.

Sharp is well known to Bowman. Growing up in Illinois and with Bowman’s ties in Chicago, Bowman mentioned that he has watched Sharp play since he was 13 years old. Sharp just finished his second year at Western Michigan University, playing in 37 games and putting up 19 points. Sharp will likely return to Michigan for a third season, as he continues to develop.

The fact that Bowman was able to get not only an NHL player in Mukhamadullin, but also a prospect that he has coveted is a major win for Edmonton.

Final Results

Obviously, the Oilers not needing to retain in the Nurse trade was the big win. Getting the full $9.25 million AAV off the books allowed for extreme flexibility with the roster and some space to maneuver. Some of Nurse’s toughness will be missed, but he often needed to play with more of an edge, rather than taking bad penalties in key moments.

Despite all the noise around finally moving Nurse’s contract, the actual return Edmonton secured deserves far more attention than it’s getting. Mukhamadullin provides a legitimate, NHL‑ready piece with upside, versatility, and a playing style that mirrors what Nurse once brought at a fraction of the cost. Sharp adds another developmental swing with real familiarity to the front office. For a trade many assumed would require sweeteners or painful retention, the Oilers instead walked away with cap freedom and two young defenders who can impact their future. The cap relief dominated the headlines, but the return itself is what’s quietly being overlooked — and it shouldn’t be.

Next: In Hindsight: The Nurse Deal That Never Stood a Chance