The Anaheim Ducks are interested in Darnell Nurse, according to one insider.

Dave Pagnotta of the Fourth Period says the Ducks have expressed “serious interest” in the Edmonton Oilers defenceman at 4:58 P.M. on Friday evening, just before the first round of the NHL Draft began.

Almost all of Anaheim’s defensive corps need new contracts heading into next year, except for Jackson LaCombe. Earlier on Friday, the Ducks traded former second-round pick Olen Zellweger to Buffalo for the 45th overall pick and Anton Wahlberg.

Discussions surrounding Nurse have gone hot and cold over the past week, with legitimate interest at the beginning of the week then turning into a bit of a holding pattern.

It’s believed that the three teams on Nurse’s trade list were the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Boston Bruins. Whether Nurse could agree to terms on a trade to the Western Conference is unknown.

Frank Seravalli said on Thursday that unless something significantly changed, Nurse wouldn’t get moved by Friday night. But with the start of free agency looming on Wednesday, and the Oilers looking to create more cap space, it makes sense why Edmonton would have urgency to make a deal.

TSN’s Darren Dreger said on Insider Trading that general manager Stan Bowman is working to get a trade done soon.

“There’s been no headway today,” said Dreger, referencing the trade list.

“Bowman I believe has been grinding the three teams, saying you’re either interested or you’re not interested. What happens next is, Bowman has to circle back to Nurse’s camp and say those three teams aren’t getting it done. There’s no benefit, at least that’s the feel here for both sides, to Darnell Nurse or the Edmonton Oilers dragging this through the summer.

“The time to get something done is perhaps this weekend. Or soon after July 1st and free agency and work from there. But it might require the player to expand the three team list.”