Nurse is in the fourth season of an eight-year, $9.25 million average annual salary, with a full no-move clause.

On the season, Nurse has scored seven goals and 20 points, and is on pace for his lowest point total since 2017-18. Nurse is also averaging his lowest ice-time per game since his third NHL season back in 2016-17 at 20:52.

His name became more popular in pre-Deadline trade speculation as the Trade Deadline drew closer. Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek openly wondered if Nurse could be asked to waive, after former GM and agent Brian Lawton tweeted that the Connor Murphy acquisition was the “calm before the storm” for Edmonton.

Nurse’s name has been on Daily Faceoff trade boards before, with the Oilers allegedly asking him to waive his no-move clause in July 2025.

With growing noise around him, some self-inflicted after short answers with the media following the loss to San Jose on February 28, Nurse commented on his struggles last week.

“It’s 61 games in, and I’m minus-12 and have 20 points. I’m not happy about that at all,” Nurse told reporters before the Senators’ game last Tuesday.

“If we’re going to reach the goal we want to reach, I have to step up for sure, and there’s a lot of hockey to be played. I think that’s the excitement and the opportunity and the accountability. I owe that to the guys in the room. That’s it. No one else.”

If the season ended today, his minus-13 would tie his career low of plus-minus, set back in 2015-16.

Against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night, Nurse played 23:14, his fifth highest ice-time of the season, registering one shot on goal, two penalty minutes, and was minus-one.