What Could the Oilers Get in Return for Darnell Nurse?

What could the Edmonton Oilers get in return for Darnell Nurse? That’s the $9.25 million question in Edmonton now, as the defenseman has let the team know he’s open to a trade. Overpaid but more than serviceable, opinions on his value around the NHL vary: some believe the Oilers would need to attach a sweetener or retain salary, while others think a team will recognize what Nurse can be and gladly take on the entire contract.

---

TSN’s Darren Dreger is among those who think there will be crickets around the team if the Oilers try to move Nurse straight up with no retention or willingness to take something back. He noted that a couple of general managers told him there would be interest, but only if Edmonton takes back another significant contract in return to make the deal work.

A Lot to Like About Nurse

Jason Gregor of Sports 1440 is someone who has a lot of time for what Nurse offers. He noted, “Some split-second decisions can be a little infuriating at times. His net-front positioning isn’t always great—that’s all valid—but you can’t ignore the other things he does well, because he does a lot well.”

He adds, “He might be the best defenseman when it comes to shutting down players who try to beat him wide. He’s so good at cutting that off without getting beaten. He’s got great skating, a big frame, and a long reach. Physically, he’s been top 15 in hits over the last three years in the league. He’s also top 40 in even-strength goals and top 40 in points—he produces.

“In recent years, he hasn’t played a lot with McDavid because that’s [Evan] Bouchard, who’s your best offensive defenseman, but Nurse can still produce. Another thing—maybe his most important asset—is his availability. He plays all the time. He’s only missed 18 games in the last nine years, and in that span, I think he’s played the first or second most total ice time in the entire NHL.”

Those are all good qualities the Oilers can sell, including telling a GM that if you play Nurse on the power play — which the Oilers did the year he got his big contract, but not again after — there’s a player there who can put up points. “So unless you think all the coaches are complete idiots who don’t understand the game, maybe he has a little more value than people give him credit for.”

What Will The Return Be for Nurse?

The return will depend on what the Oilers are trying to accomplish. Is this just about moving his cap hit and dumping the entire $9.25 million? If so, they’ll likely have to add a sweetener to the deal. Perhaps it’s a later pick, but it will be something. If this is about making a hockey trade, Edmonton will probably have to take on someone else’s “headache.” That means bringing back a slightly overpaid player and hoping they do well with a fresh start.

In either case, that cost shouldn’t be prohibitive. It’s not as though Matt Savoie or Ike Howard will have to go to make a deal work. If the Oilers are doing that, it’s because they see a player they like and they’re trying to make a trade for him. At that point, the trade becomes much bigger.

There is a good chance, especially if Nurse expands his list of teams, that Edmonton can move on from the contract without taking that huge a hit in the process.

Next: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Maple Leafs, Oilers, McDavid & Kucherov