According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Anaheim Ducks have “serious interest” in Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse.
Long thought to be a situation where both sides need a fresh start, Nurse formally requested such two weeks ago. Since then, the 6’4” lefty has been loosely connected to the Flyers, as one club the veteran is apparently open to becoming his new home, with other suitors not so clearly known. After moving Olen Zellweger to Buffalo yesterday, Anaheim stands out as they work toward a new defense core in 2026-27.
At age 31 the former seventh overall selection of Edmonton (2013) has seen his statistics dwindle, once a reliable 40-point-getter in his mid-20s. Locked up five years ago on a long-term deal which pays him $9.25MM per season through 2030-31, the expectation was that Nurse would continue to be a crucial piece in the blue and orange who would help lead their core through the Connor McDavid/Leon Draisaitl era.
Striking gold with Evan Bouchard, along with the addition of the ever-steady Mattias Ekholm, it’s not to say that Nurse himself has fallen off a cliff. He finished just behind Bouchard in ice time for defenseman on the team, 20:58 a night, suiting up in all 82 games. Nurse also surpassed the 100-penalty-minute mark for the first time in year 12, fully indicative of his willingness to take on a different role and do the dirty work, dropping the gloves and contributing on the penalty kill. Absolutely still a useful player, it simply comes down to where Edmonton stands as a franchise. Needing a shake up after falling flat in the opening round, the Oilers no longer can afford to shell out over nine million for Nurse.
No stranger to taking on players in such situations, twice moving respected veterans from the Big Apple to Orange County in Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider, Anaheim makes a lot of sense out of the limited teams capable of taking on Nurse. Holding over $44 million of cap space after the draft night trade of Mason McTavish brought only draft capital courtesy of St. Louis, the Ducks have just three defensemen signed for next season. John Carlson is expected to move on, the aforementioned Trouba’s status is unknown, along with their captain Radko Gudas who are all on track to hit the open market next week. Needing a lefty to work behind Jackson LaCombe, Nurse would continue to eat tougher minutes, not expected to put up any fancy numbers. It would continue to not be a lot out of the current 11th-highest paid defenseman in the league, but in a free agent class thin on lefties, now is the time to pull the trigger, to Nurse’s benefit, no less.
Holding the cards on what comes next in the form of a full no-trade clause, the Ducks have a lot to offer Nurse, whose 100 career playoff games haven’t yet brought the ultimate goal. Trying to find a contending team to his liking who would be comfortable enough inheriting such an inflated contract presents a tough scenario, and Anaheim presents a complete package. The dynamic young team ended their seven-year playoff drought, winning one round, setting their sights on much more to come.
Surely motivated to make something happen before July 1, Edmonton general manager Stan Bowman would be looking to unload as much of the $9.25MM as possible to supplement their current $7MM in space ahead of free agency. Getting out unscathed would require some serious wizardry, as retention or taking back an unfavorable contract such as Frank Vatrano’s $4.57MM are possibilities. Rather than so much emphasis on the actual assets brought back to Edmonton, what will be fascinating is just how much Nurse’s soon-to-be second club would be willing to take on.
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