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‘For whatever reason I was the problem’: Nurse on exit from Oilers
Edmonton Oilers Darnell Nurse
Photo credit: Yannick Peterhans-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Menzies
Jul 4, 2026, 14:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 4, 2026, 12:39 EDT
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At times, Darnell Nurse was a fan favourite with the Edmonton Oilers. Other times, a whipping boy.
“That’s sports, though,” said Nurse at his introductory press conference in San Jose shortly after the trade became official. “That’s how it works.”
It’s a fresh start coming after a multi-week negotiation process for Oilers general manager Stan Bowman, working with the initial three-team list Nurse provided. On July 1, Nurse expanded his list, and the deal with the Sharks was completed.
Whatever the case may be, the Oilers were able to move Nurse’s full $9.25 million contract without salary cap retention, while also adding a 24-year-old former first-rounder in Shakir Mukhamadullin and another defensive prospect.
Both sides got the deal done early enough in free agency to make the Oilers and Nurse’s future team happy, even if there were mixed emotions. 
“I don’t think anyone expects more of themselves than me,” said Nurse. 
“When you have a high cap hit, there are things that were definitely warranted,” he said. “That my play warranted them. You could look and see there were probably a lot of things that weren’t warranted. And for whatever reason, I was the problem.  
“That’s sport, though. That’s how it works. Especially in big markets and whatnot, like you’re never gonna sell newspapers, you’re never gonna be able to get the attention without going negative. I think someone’s gotta bear the brunt of that.”

‘That target isn’t moving off you’

The relationship between the team and the player was fracturing.
The Oilers reportedly asked Nurse if he was willing to waive last summer. Trade rumours percolated again at the trade deadline, with the Oilers working on a deal with the Maple Leafs. Sportsnet’s Mark Spector reported the Oilers discussed scratching Nurse in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
The writing was on the wall.
“When you’re making a lot of money, and you’re not performing – and like I said, there were a lot of moments that I felt like I needed to perform better and I didn’t,” said Nurse. “But once you become that target, sometimes that target isn’t moving off you. So for me, it’s a fresh start.
“I had lots of good memories in Edmonton, but now that chapter closes.”
Edmonton isn’t just the place Nurse has been for 13 years after being the seventh overall draft choice in 2013. He’s laid down significant roots, getting married and having three kids born in the city. Nurse has also been lauded as one of the most active Edmonton Oilers in terms of charity work.
In Oilers franchise history, he’s seventh in games played with 798, while suiting for another 100 playoff games, and two Stanley Cup Final runs. Kevin Lowe is the only Oilers’ defenceman to play more regular season games than Nurse. 
“We made the difficult decision here to part ways with a true competitor, lifelong Oiler, tremendous teammate, tremendous member of the community,” said Stan Bowman on July 1.
“I really enjoyed getting to know Darnell and having him on the team. He’s a class act. Nobody competes harder for his teammates than Darnell, so that’s difficult when things like this happen. We certainly wish him and his family well.”
Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of PreGaming and Oilersnation After Dark. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.

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