NHL trade rumors: Elliotte Friedman reports Oilers inquired about $74,000,000 D-man's willingness to waive NMC

The Edmonton Oilers have reportedly approached several players with no-movement clauses (NMCs) in the offseason to gauge their willingness to waive them for potential trades, with defenseman Darnell Nurse being one of those players.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on his 32 Thoughts podcast, the Oilers asked Nurse if he would consider waiving his NMC, but the 30-year-old reportedly expressed no interest in leaving Edmonton.

Nurse is currently signed to an eight-year, $74 million deal with a cap hit of $9.25 million. His contract runs through the 2029-30 season and includes a full no-movement clause until the 2026-26 season, after which it transitions to a 10-team no-trade list.

"I think basically Edmonton went to a check with all their guys who had no trade clauses, who they would want to move and say, ‘Okay, how many of you are willing to go places?’ And (Viktor) Arvidson said he was, so he went," Friedman said via Edmonton Journal.

He added:

"But, you know, Nurse, I don’t think he wants to go anywhere. (Adam) Henrique, I’m not convinced he wants to go anywhere. So that’s kind of where it ended up. They made it clear they liked being part of something where they can win, and they decided to stay, as is their right."

The inquiry appears to stem from the Edmonton Oilers' need to manage their salary cap, especially with upcoming contract extensions for key players like Connor McDavid.

Nurse's cap hit has been a point of contention, particularly due to his inconsistent playoff performance despite a strong regular season. According to reports, his contract is viewed as a significant obstacle to roster flexibility, as an overpayment given his on-ice production.

How long has Darnell Nurse been with the Edmonton Oilers?

NHL: Stanley Cup Final-Edmonton Oilers at Florida Panthers - Source: Imagn

Nurse has been with the Edmonton Oilers since the club drafted him with the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NHL draft.

The veteran defenseman has played 11 seasons with the club, accumulating 300 points through 81 goals and 219 assists in 716 career games. He racked up 33 points through five goals and 28 assists last season.

In the playoffs, Nurse notched eight points through three goals and five assists in 22 games, with a plus-minus rating of +2.

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About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

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Edited by Abhishek Dilta