Tuesday is the final day before free agency begins, and with a little over $7.4 million in cap space remaining, the Oilers’ free agency plans hinge on being able to shed Nurse’s contract. Nurse is set to make $9.25 million annually for the next four seasons, with the 2026-27 season being his final season with a full no-move clause.

So far this off-season, there have been six teams that Nurse has been linked to, three in the Eastern Conference and three in the Western Conference. On Monday’s edition of 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported that the only three teams on his list are the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Both the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks reportedly have interest in Nurse, but the left-shot defenceman has yet to agree to either team. The Los Angeles Kings, led by general manager Ken Holland, seemed interested when the news broke out, but it’s been radio silence on that front.

That being said, what do possible trades with the Bruins, Flyers, Penguins, Ducks, and Sharks look like?

Boston Bruins

In that same 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman noted that the Bruins would need to make “other moves happen” to acquire Nurse. As it stands, the Bruins have a little over $7.7 million in cap space, so they’ll either need to send money back, the Oilers will need to retain, or the Bruins will have to free up cap space in another way.

Now if it’s the former, two players of note could be a fit for the Oilers. Elias Lindholm is a right-shot centre who carries a cap hit of $7.75 million AAV, as well as a no-move clause. While the no-move clause could have prevented issues, Lindholm played in both Calgary and Vancouver before signing with the Bruins ahead of the 2024-25 season.

The fit with the Bruins has been okay. Last season, he scored 17 goals and 48 points in 69 points, better than his 17 goals and 47 points in 82 games in his first season with the Bruins. On the Oilers, he slots in nicely as the second-line centre if Leon Draisaitl are together, or in the top six as right winger if they are separated.

Whenever the Oilers trade Nurse, they’ll need to find a replacement for him. One potential replacement could be acquired through a trade with the Bruins: Mason Lohrei. A left-shot defenceman, Lohrei carries a cap hit of $3.2 million for the 2026-27 season and is set to become a restricted free agent.

Last season, the Baton Rouge product scored seven goals and 26 points in 73 games, down from his 33 points during the 2024-25 season. Lohrei is a solid defender who stands at 6’5”, 218 lbs.

Philadelphia Flyers

Friedman also noted that the Flyers would like to move some cap before potentially acquiring Nurse. While they have over $33.6 million in cap space, they’ll need to sign restricted free agents Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale.

One player who could be moved in a potential trade is Rasmus Ristolainen, who carried a $5.1 million cap hit until the end of the season. That said, he’s not a perfect replacement for Nurse, as the Finnish defenceman is a right-shot defenceman. Before the Oilers signed Connor Murphy, it made more sense.

Still, the Flyers have two other defencemen who could be of note to the Oilers: Cameron York and Nick Seeler. Both are left-shot defencemen, with the 25-year-old York carrying a $5.15 million cap hit until the end of the 2029-30 season, while Seeler has a $2.7 million cap hit until the end of the 2027-28 season.

According to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, the Oilers have shown interest in Flyers forward Owen Tippett, while Flyers centre Sean Couturier could also be a fit, at least in terms of cap hit coming back.

Pittsburgh Penguins

According to Friedman, the Penguins wish for the Oilers to retain a portion of salary, something that they don’t want to do. The whole point of trading Nurse is freeing up cap space to do other things, so retaining a significant portion while also taking money back is counterintuitive.

As it stands, the Penguins have a little over $38.7 million, but will need to re-sign restricted free agent Artūrs Šilovs, find another netminder, and sign at least three forwards to replace Kevin Hayes, Anthony Mantha, and Noel Acciari. Yegor Chinakhov is also a restricted free agent.

Additionally, the Penguins have a surplus of left-shot defencemen signed for the 2026-27 season. Samuel Girard and Parker Wotherspoon are set to become unrestricted free agents following the 2026-27 season, while Ryan Graves is making $4.5 million annually until the end of the 2028-29 season.

A trade with the Penguins, even if Dubas was Nurse’s former general manager with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, just doesn’t seem likely if the Penguins wish for the Oilers to retain. Though if they can work out a trade, Wotherspoon should be on the radar, not just for his $1 million cap hit, but also the success he found with Evan Bouchard at the World Championships.

Anaheim Ducks

Friedman also noted that there’s noise surrounding the Anaheim Ducks, noting that the team “has some holes” on their blue line. As of June 30th, the Ducks have a bit over $44.6 million in cap space, but will need to sign RFAs Cutter Gauthier, Leo Carlsson, and Pavel Mintyukov.

While there’s a fit for the Ducks and the two teams have reportedly engaged in conversation, Nurse has yet to waive his no-move clause to join the Oilers’ Pacific Division rivals. Since Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek took over, the Oilers and Ducks have made a trade, with the Oilers acquiring Sam Carrick and Adam Henrique before the 2024 trade deadline.

There aren’t many players of interest on the Ducks, other than perhaps Frank Vatrano and Tim Washe, but the Ducks have three second-round picks in the 2027 draft.

San Jose Sharks

Appearing on Daily Faceoff Live on Monday, Pagnotta reported that the Sharks are “creeping in” on a Nurse deal, with the Oilers and the fellow Pacific Division team re-engaging in trade talks. Similarly to the Ducks, Nurse would need to waive to be traded to the Sharks.

In the past week or so, the Sharks have added former Oiler prospect Michael Kesselring and also drafted right-shot defence prospects Keaton Verhoeff and Ryan Lin. There is still a need for a veteran left-shot defenceman on their roster, as Dmirty Orlov, Sam Dickinson, and Luca Cagnoni are the three defenders penciled in on the left side.

On top of a need for a player like Nurse, the Sharks have a little under $39.5 million in cap space, over $12 million below the cap floor. The Oilers likely wouldn’t need to retain, and there is a notable like who could be of use to the Oilers, right-shot centre Collin Graf. That said, they are lacking in picks, with their next second being in the 2028 draft.

At the end of the day, the Oilers need permission from Nurse for the two Pacific Division teams, while it seems like the Flyers and Bruins are still in on the left-shot defenceman.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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