The trade list of Edmonton Oilers alternate captain and defenseman Darnell Nurse was revealed on Friday, June 27, and the NHL fans went after him for it on social media.

The 31-year-old has reportedly been looking to leave Edmonton after the conclusion of the last season. But no real progress has been made by the Oilers and Nurse in this regard for the better part of the last two months.

In post by NHL Rumour Report on X, NHL insider Frank Seravalli’s report on the matter was published in Hockey 24/7, in which the names of three teams on the Canadian player’s trade list were mentioned.

He wrote that Nurse “has not expanded his three-team list where he'd approve a trade: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Boston.”

Since Nurse has a full no-movement clause active in his contract until the end of the 2026-27 season, the Oilers can’t really do much regarding trading him right now. He can only move elsewhere after agreeing with the Oilers and their GM, Stan Bowman, to waive the protection outlined in the eight-year, $74 million contract.

The deal was signed on August 6, 2021, and activated from the 2022-23 season onwards.

Seravalli went further by noting that all of these teams are looking to bolster their “other lines” first and foremost, instead of looking at Nurse.

The Philadelphia Flyers are in the trade market for Columbus Blue Jackets alternate captain and defenseman Zach Werenski and Anaheim Ducks defenseman John Carlson. At the same time, the Boston Bruins have their sights set on a right-shooting defenseman from free agency.

The $9.25 million cap hit on Nurse’s current contract until the 2029-30 season has to be one of the main reasons why the Oilers aren’t able to trade him till now in this offseason.

Also, Nurse had a tough 2025-26 season, scoring just 24 points (7G / 17A) in 82 games, his lowest number in nine seasons with the Oilers. He failed to register a point to his name in six Stanley Cup Playoff games in 2026, which hadn’t happened to him in seven previous playoff campaigns.

NHL fans react to Darnell Nurse’s trade list submitted to the Edmonton Oilers

In the comment section of the same X post by NHL Rumour Report of Frank Seravalli’s report published in Hockey 24/7 , NHL fans ripped into the Edmonton Oilers defenseman after knowing full well that he isn’t their first option to go for.

“Nobody wants him,” a fan simply stated that Nurse is surplus to requirements in the NHL.

A couple of hockey enthusiasts apparently had an idea about the big money contract of the Canadian and the lack of interest in him in the trade market. One of them said:

“Sorry… does he not realize none of these teams want him and his contract?”

“Nurse doesn’t seem like the kind of player that can have a list of approved teams. He should be happy if any team wants to trade for him,” remarked another, which explained the situation even further.

“Why is he acting like he’s a hot commodity,” an NHL fan posed a question for Nurse.

A Pittsburgh Penguins fan already had enough of the reports suggesting a potential link-up between Nurse and his team, and said:

“Nightmare fuel as a Pens fan. Please go literally anywhere else.”

Is Darnell Nurse going to get traded away from the Edmonton Oilers this offseason? Tell us your prediction in the comments.

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Written by

Arjun Sharma

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi