Darnell Nurse can hardly claim to have a good season. With just 8 points in 22 playoff matches, the 30-year-old’s 2024-25 postseason was almost a reflection of the Oilers’ disappointing Stanley Cup campaign. Naturally, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see Edmonton trying to move around the defenseman to make room for new blood on the roster. However, the man himself seems to think that such rumors should be kept under a lid.

Nurse is about to enter the fourth year of his eight-year $72 million contract with the Oilers, a sum many fans had previously posited as too high for someone as inconsistent as the Ontario native. Furthermore, his $9.25 million AAV is often projected as a major obstacle in Edmonton’s salary cap flexibility, making trade rumors ahead of the 2025-26 season even more justified. However, while NHL insiders claim that the franchise quietly tried to find a new camp for Nurse, he isn’t one to pay heed to the gossip.

Just a day ago, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman insisted that the Edmonton Oilers attempted to trade Darnell Nurse in order to find a new face for their blueline. “I think basically Edmonton went to a check with all their guys who had no trade clauses,” Friedman stated during a recent episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, noting that Nurse didn’t want to waive his no-movement clause. However, in an Instagram story update from July 7, the star defenseman addressed the assumption with a quirky take.

Nurse’s IG story came with no words, but rather with a meme. “Why you always lying,” being the general theme of the popular meme, the Oilers defenseman effectively brushed aside all rumors that Edmonton wanted him to waive the no-trade clause in his contract. Evidently, Darnell made it clear that he will continue to represent the Oilers Nation for as long as he can. Well, truth be told, Friedman also talked in a similar vein.

The Sportsnet analyst further claimed that, along with Nurse, Edmonton also approached Adam Henrique with a similar proposition to be traded and waive his no-movement clause. But the seasoned NHL insider also asserted that the decision to stay where they were was also something the stars had every justification for. “They made it clear they like being part of something where they can win, and they decided to stay — as is their right,” Friedman stated.

But, honestly, let’s get real. Darnell Nurse hasn’t exactly been the poster boy you’d hope him to be, given the enormous benefits he enjoys.

Darnell Nurse’s on-ice antics keep everyone on their toes

The defenseman missed the Oilers’ final match of the regular season for his cheap antics on Kings’ forward Quinton Byfield in April. Byfield didn’t return to the ice, and Nurse had to serve a one-match suspension. However, that didn’t stop Darnell from keeping at it in the postseason as well. The Edmonton star’s slash on the Dallas Stars’ Roope Hintz in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals this season brought tremendous flak for Nurse. Hintz’s misfortune only added to the fans’ frustration. However, it’s not like Nurse’s postseason infractions were left unchecked. In the Stanley Cup Finals series, Darnell finally met his match.

In Game 2 vs the Panthers, Darnell Nurse got embroiled in a fistfight with the Cats’ Matthew Tkachuk, making sure the fans got what they paid for: a proper showdown on the ice. While the incident brought Chucky the heat, it also seemed like Nurse finally found his match inside the skating rink. Justifiably, all these added up, and trade speculations involving Darnell could hardly be stopped.

The Hockey News’ Caleb Kerney even came up with a list of teams that could profit from adding Nurse to their rosters, while noting how parting ways with the star could help the Oilers to benefit from the extra salary cap space. Do you think Kerney was on the right track? Or do you think that Edmonton still has a lot to benefit from Nurse’s defensive prowess? Share your take on his contract details with us!