Oilers could consider trading top defenseman per NHL analyst

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse has played his entire NHL career with the franchise, but is that going to come to an end soon?

The Oilers made a handful of additions during the deadline, including Jason Dickinson, Connor Murphy and Colton Dach from the Chicago Blackhawks as they hope to make a third straight deep postseason run.

But per a new report from NHL analyst David Pagnotta, there were discussions surrounding Nurse's long-term future with the team, and there still remains a possibility of him being moved during the summer.

So far this year, Nurse has 20 points (7G, 13A) in 64 games played.

He's signed through 2030 with an AAV (average annual value) of $9,250,000. If the Oilers were to move him, they would likely have to retain a portion of that number to facilitate a trade, as there aren't many teams that would be willing to take on that entire AAV.

The Oilers took Nurse with the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft while he was playing for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL. He made his NHL debut with the Oilers in 2014-15, playing in two games.

His first full year in the NHL was 2015-16, playing in 69 games and scoring 10 points (3G, 7A). Eventually in 2021, the Oilers signed him to an eight year extension.

He has 320 points (88G, 232A) in 780 career NHL games.

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