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Nurse: “I wouldn’t come to camp without a contract”

Photo credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

By Cam Lewis

Sep 5, 2018, 18:04 EDTUpdated: Sep 5, 2018, 18:06 EDT

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Training camp is right around the corner and the Oilers and restricted free agent Darnell Nurse still haven’t reached an agreement on a new contract. According to the young defender, he won’t be attending training camp without a contract.

“I wouldn’t come to camp without a contract. Hopefully, we get something done before camp so that I can be out there the first day. That’s the goal.
I’m not the only one in this situation. There’s a couple other guys. I don’t think I’m surprised. Obviously, you go into the summer you think something will be done, especially going through it the first time you think something will be done right away, but it’s an educating process.” – Sportsnet

This really isn’t an abnormal situation. Those without contracts obviously won’t attend training camp because of the risk of injury associated with playing, so it isn’t like Nurse is unique here. There are also a handful of other unsigned RFAs out there — Toronto’s William Nylander, Vegas’ Shea Theodore, and Winnipeg’s Josh Morrisey to name a few — so, again, this isn’t something to panic about. If the Oilers start playing pre-season games and Nurse doesn’t have a deal, well, then we can probably start to worry a little bit.

Nurse said recently that he’s optimistic about getting something worked out before training camp begins.

The Oilers, of course, are in a tight cap situation. They have just under $4 million to work with for the 2018-19 season.