The Edmonton Oilers made many big changes this offseason. They changed the coaching staff, made several roster moves, and added and removed many players. But one of the biggest moves was trading longtime defenseman Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks.

And the Oilers captain, Connor McDavid, said it was hard to see Nurse leave. McDavid and Nurse played together for almost 10 years, so the trade was emotional for him.

“It’s obviously disappointing to lose someone like Darnell and the rest of the guys,” McDavid said.

According to Michael Whitaker of Heavy, McDavid's comments showed the team lost more than an experienced defenseman. He and Darnell Nurse had been teammates since 2015. Nurse spent many years with the Oilers and played a key role in playoff runs.

McDavid also said, "It’s been hard to really put into words what Nurse’s been to not only me, but the whole group and everybody in Edmonton. So extremely disappointed to see that happen."

McDavid said Nurse meant more than his play on the ice. He was a respected leader and teammate, so everyone found it difficult to see him leave.

Even though McDavid was disappointed, he also said he feels hopeful about the team's future.

“At the same time, really excited about some of the additions. New coach, some good players. It’s an exciting time in Edmonton.”

McDavid's comments showed that he believes the Oilers can still succeed, even after losing an important veteran player. The team has a new coaching staff and several new players. Now, Edmonton hopes these changes will help the team make another run for the Stanley Cup.

Darnell Nurse’s contract remains a talking point following the trade

The same Heavy report said people are still talking about Nurse after the trade. Bleacher Report NHL insider Joe Yerdon ranked Nurse's eight-year, $74 million contract among the league's 10 worst. He said the contract was too expensive for the type of player Nurse has been.

“Unlike the previous Sharks contract on this list, the money involved in Darnell Nurse’s deal isn’t San Jose’s doing,” Yerdon wrote.

Yerdon said the Oilers gave Nurse an eight-year contract in 2021, which helped increase the value of top defensemen. He added that Nurse was known as a reliable two-way defenseman, not a high-scoring player.

Yerdon also said, "Playing in Edmonton with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl should’ve naturally led to more points, but that was never the style of game Nurse played."

Yerdon said many people questioned Nurse's contract, even though he was a strong defensive player. Nurse played 798 regular-season games, scoring 88 goals and adding 236 assists.

He also appeared in 100 playoff games and reached the Stanley Cup Final twice. Now with the Sharks, Nurse begins a new chapter as Edmonton moves forward without him.

McDavid's comments showed how important Nurse was to the team. Now, the biggest question is whether Edmonton's offseason changes will make the team stronger or leave a big gap. What do you think? Let us know in the comments. 

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason