Does Darnell Nurse want to go to a contender, along the lines of the short trade list Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, and relay the usual names like Vegas, Florida, Tampa Bay, or Dallas? Is being close to home in Toronto appealing, despite going from one hockey mecca to another? Or is keeping a low profile in a non-traditional hockey market the best decision for him?

Since the Oilers have walked Nurse down this path, they must have an idea of who’s interested. But he must sign off the trade. What appeals to him most?

Imagining an Oilers defence corps without Nurse is hard to do considering the last decade. Since 2017, Nurse has been remarkably healthy, never playing fewer than 70 games (lockout excluded).

Jake Walman will have to fill the hole on the left side since he’s being paid like a top-end second-pair defenceman and he’ll need to play like one. Connor Murphy is presumably the top target to re-sign. Plus, whoever comes back in the trade or how the Oilers use the money that Nurse’s trade will create.

But the bottom line is, this trade and the spin-off will define Bowman’s tenure as GM, just like Tristan Jarry for Stuart Skinner and assets is his biggest swing — and miss. 

Is getting rid of Darnell Nurse alone good enough? It all depends on the money and the return.

When he has one hand tied behind his back, and limited wiggle room, Bowman has done some of his best work, like extracting Vasily Podkolzin out of Vancouver. When he’s had time, options, and resources, it’s been scary. Bowman needs a win, which will be hard to achieve.