Oilers Organization Open to Trading Darnell Nurse?: Only One Way
Edmonton’s front office weighs shedding a massive contract to spark a roster reset, but internal loyalty and a restrictive no-movement clause threaten to stall the blockbuster move.
The Edmonton Oilers will need to make offseason changes. Following a disappointing 2025–26 campaign—one in which both Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid acknowledged concerns about the team’s direction—how do the required changes get made? One option is a big summer trade.
Moving out salary to create room and flexibility for adjustments is key to any significant shift. That’s easier said than done, especially when it involves one of Edmonton’s needle-movers: Darnell Nurse. Trending Stories: Comments From Oilers Point to Need For Fundamental Shift in Edmonton Draisaitl on McDavid's Timeline Sports 1440's Jason Gregor broached that idea on Monday's show, suggesting the Oilers actually have an appetite to consider a Nurse trade.
They wouldn't be against moving out his $9. 25 million salary over the next four seasons if it meant clearing out an inflated contract. "People have talked about moving on from Darnell Nurse.
I think people in the organization are open to it. The leadership group wasn't overly open to it," Gregor said. The Oilers organization might be open to trading Darnell Nurse but is the leadership group???