I’m reading some interesting takes about the Edmonton Oilers, specifically about Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. It’s important to remember that the top of this roster is elite, reflected by McDavid’s recent capturing of his fifth Lindsay award.
When we talk about taking the regular season more seriously, that’s a subject worth discussing. However, when some are suggesting the top players half assed it, I have to push back on that idea.
When 97-29 were on the ice together at five-on-five last season, the team scored 53 percent of the goals. The expected GA-60 was 2.39, but the actual number was 3.02 GA-60. We can chalk that up to luck, goaltending and individual errors, but the two men were hammering opponents at a 3.4 GF-60 clip. That’s very good. You’d like that 53 percent goal share to be closer than the expected number (60 percent), but for me if the club cuts back on those blasted stretch passes and makes skill outlet dishes tape-to-tape more often, the actual factual will be better next year.
Connor McDavid’s solo numbers (3.19-2.91, 52 percent) are close to expected (3.58-3.05, 54 percent) with a little offense shaved off at both ends of the ice. McDavid solo in 2024-25 was 49 percent with 57 percent expected, so last season saw his solo work on the upswing.
Draisaitl is often an outlier in these things, as his actual goal share is usually better than the expected number. In 2025-26, his goal share was was 56 percent solo, 50 percent expected. His GF-60 (3.65) was far superior to the expected total (2.76 GF-60). It doesn’t happen every year, but Leon cashes at a high rate five-on-five.
I think the Oilers, to a man, looked tired and disorganized for much of the season, and that includes McDavid and Draisaitl. The obsession with stretch passes and low percentage plays with predictable outcomes (along with goaltending and coverage issues) contributed to the belief in some circles the team was dogging it.
Late in the season, the club went on a roll and looked to be locked and loaded. Injuries to the gentlemen occupying the center position changed the lines drastically and sent the club into a short-term spiral that landed them on the outside of the playoffs in the first round.
It’s important to both address areas of weakness and not overreact to a disappointing season. All in, McDavid’s lines at five-on-five delivered 52.5 goal percentage, Draisaitl 55.4.
The Oilers have a lot of problems. Selecting McDavid and Draisaitl and their motivation/effort as a key item is wrongheaded.
The Montreal Expos struggled in a period they were supposed to flourish, and decided the problem was HOF catcher Gary Carter. They traded his ass and he won a World Series with the New York Mets a couple of years later. It’s important to examine issues in the clear light of a new morning. If you think McDavid and Draisaitl are the problem, go back to bed and give it another think.
On the Lowdown today, Bagged Milk from Oilers Nation will be our feature guest and we’ll talk about a New York miracle in the NBA. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube. See you on the radio!
Kyle Dubas quotes on Darnell Nurse. Bowman is going to get a haul from Pittsburgh.
“He’s the captain of our team – the heart-and-soul leader of a team that’s really overachieved,” he said. “The reason why we’ve been able to do that and have the success we’ve had is because of what Darnell brings to the table every single day.”
“Off the ice and in the dressing room, the captain’s chronicles run deep. “Five minutes. That’s all you need to see what kind of a leader he is,” Dubas says. “The work ethic he has in the weight room, how he involves everyone on the team at all times…”
“He’s extraordinarily athletic – one of the most athletic hockey players you’ll ever see,”
“That’s Darnell,” Dubas says. “There are no shifts off.”
“He has an incredible reach and the ability to cover a lot of ground laterally. Not many players have the physical makeup and the intelligence to cover ground, close gaps and read a developing play the way he can.”
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/nurse-makes-good-on-promise-to-dominate-ohl/?sn-amp
Wow, whoever Dubas is talking about, I want that guy. Think a team would take nurse for that guy?
Hahaha
I’m not positive Dubas is going to pull a Chiarelli and acquire a d-man based on a junior career….
“Stu liked him in his draft year”
Carter Hart continues his streak to become the first goalie in NHL history to allow 4 or more goals in his first 5 appearances in the finals.
Torts went full load up line 1 strategy … hows that working. we have seen it for 6 years.
it makes the other lines less effective.
it makes it seems like only 1 line matters.
and usually it doesn’t work.
The coach bounce is over. And Torts can’t keep them playing with their structure
Reminds me of the Oilers disintegrating against the p’s
Carter Hart is the first goalie to allow at least 4 goals in his first 4 games of the finals. Will he continue his streak?
Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy
I really wish there was more and comprehensive drug testing. Canes look way jacked on the bench
There was that one year (2010) I recall that some trainer or chiropractor for the capitals was caught with a bunch of roids during the playoffs. I recall reading then how they don’t have testing during the playoffs.
The Panthers sure looked better playing in Florida. Against us. A good night’s sleep at home or something else.
Not to mention Kulikov. He was the most docile hockey player I’ve ever seen in Oilers silks, but playing for the Panthers, his entire personality changed, like giving him R from the Pokémon movie. He certainly also turned back the clock quite dramatically too.
The NHl definitely should have PED testing during playoffs.
If they did testing in the playoffs then the games would look like this:
Awesome
My tinfoil hat thinks it’s interesting that the Panthers missed the playoffs in an Olympic year. 😬😬😬
Wow. Can’t remember how many of them went
Regardless of who wins this, you’d have to think Jordan Staal is the odds on favourite now for the Conn Smythe. Pretty impressive performance.
The kind of player you need to win a cup.
he is in the running. but 14 pts vs 29 pts ?? hard to overlook.
he has been excellent in the final
Chris Johnston
@reporterchris
Jordan Staal is the first player to score in five straight games to start a Stanley Cup Final since Jean Beliveau in 1956. Maurice Richard (1951) and Cyclone Taylor (1918) are the only other players to do it.
I will probably be in the minority here, but I think Nurse asking for a trade is a really bad sign for the organization. It’s an indication that he no longer believes this management team will get them over the line.
Nurse has been criticized for years about his contract and his play. However, he put up with it, because he believed they would win it all. I think this trade request shows that the equation has changed. His belief in winning here no longer outweighs the shit he has to put up with.
McDavid’s 2 year contract was a Show Me contract for management. I would say they are very much failing this test to date. But there is still time. Hopefully this management has learned some lessons and they can put it all together.
However, this off-season to date doesn’t give me much reason for optimism.
Nurse defender here. He “put up with it?”
While he gets way more arrows than deserved…
Nearly the highest paid defenseman in the sport, playing at a 2nd pairing level. Poor guy.
Its not necessarily an indication of that at all.
Nurse is aware that the Oilers want to move him and will be attempting to do so (if there is a waive) or next year when he can traded to 21 teams without consent.
The Oilers should trade Nurse to San Jose for the $8 million dead cap last season of Logan Couture’s contact.
They might have to throw in a sweetener but would have more than $30 million in cap space to navigate the offseason.
A. dead cap cannot be traded
B. is Couture really dead cap. Isn’t it LTIR as he hasn’t retired?
It is effectively dead cap for the Sharks as he hasn’t played for a very long time.
It is SELTIR for one more season so can indeed be traded or I wouldn’t have suggested it.
Actually is a good idea. But is their even an ounce of patience with this management or fan base?
It can be traded, yes, but it wouldn’t give the Oilers any extra cap space – none.
its a terrible suggestion for the Oilers.
Just like I said to the guy on twitter you likely got this idea from, trading for Couture would give the Oilers exactly zero extra cap space. In fact, it would decrease cap space as they wouldn’t get the full $8MM of cap relief unless they were exactly at the cap, not a dollar under when they put him on LTIR.
How someone doesn’t understand this after all these years.
OP, check my math and let me know where I’m wrong, please:
We gain $9.25M in space by trading Nurse. We spend that on whatever floats our personal boats. We enter the season with about $2M in cap space, say, excluding the Couture contract. Are we completely disallowed to LTIR him in this case?
I just don’t get why, in the above, we don’t essentially end up with $6M of cap space (the amount over the cap his contract would put us).
Is that no longer possible with the LTIR changes made last summer?
They can LTIR Coture, no problem, but lets not forget, when you add Coture you add his cap hit so, sure, if the Oilers are right near the cap (INCLUDING COTURE) they can LTIR him and go over the cap but its a net zero at best.
We add Coture’s cap hit to the calculation.
Eichel has been pretty invisible this round. I’ve wondered how his neck surgery would work out. He’s stretching it pre game and looks like he’s not well. My impression is that surgery was on the edge. I hope he’s ok, just because he’s a human
Bieksa just defines the mistakes the Oilers also make dealing with shots against.
Kucherov wins the Hart.
There was a Gabriel Ladeskog 5th place vote for the Hart – like come on.
7 defensemen got votes with a notable omission?
Kucherov won both of the head-to-head matchups against McDavid.
Played 6 fewer games, and probably would have won the Art Ross if he didn’t miss those games.
He had a dynamite season, and was deserving.
It’s not a knock against McDavid … sometimes the other guy also deserves his due.
I’ve got no issues with Kuch winning.
I do have an issue with whoever gave Landeskog a vote.
Would a 5th place vote have changed the outcome of who won the award. It’s dumb, I agree, but a harmless kind of dumb.
Given there was a total of 10 point difference, ya, could have been close to making a difference but, no, of course it likely has no practical effect most of the time.
At the same time, it makes a mockery of the voting – it would be like Gregor voting Podz for the Hart or, say Klefom returned from his injury and had a mediocre season and him getting a vote.
Matty on twitter
Any thought that the Flyers might trade Owen Tippett in a Darnell Nurse package with say Ike Howard, might be a crazy from Flyers end
i dont know why Philly would trade Tippett but Hes a great target. His 37 5v5 points would have been 4th on our team this season. Im sure we’d have to add.
I think Philly night be a team to not attribute too much negative value to Nurse but I can’t imagine that deal comes close – Tippett is on a sweetheart of a contract for many years.
I agree. Matty also suggested trading him for Laferrière in LA so he is way off on Nurse’s value IMO
I’m excited about the changes the CFL is making. Stale league, lots of struggles. I have never gravitated to the NFL, old enough to remember how great the CFL was at one time
The new field and goal posts I really like. Data driven and thoughtful. Updating the Rouge. Standardizing the time clock. Benches opposite sides. Increasing end zone seats. Looking for more exciting play. Really nice change to the playoff structure and really fair
Johnston has done a great job. Ambrosi concerned me because he used his schooling and was trying to stretch way too far while doing nothing for things on the ground. The CFL lives or dies in Canada. Kudos to Johnston. The changes will make the game better and more fun. And interest and expansion will follow
Why can’t the NHL be correctly progressive? Fix issues and improve the process and fan experience? Gary is making plans to retire. But at 74 he needs to move it up. I mention false attribution about the Oilers success and that the league has grown has not much to do with him. Everything has grown in sports, the NHL is dusty and the core fans want better. He’s done a proper job for owners but mostly been along for the ride
I do think it’s fun that there is more talk about the Oilers and their shenanigans during the Stanley Cup Finals than the actual Finals.
Eat it Bettman.
The Spector Hit Piece was an inside job by the organization.
It sounds like Nurse might have requested the trade before he even wrote it too?
Sorry another Nurse post.
Four more years left in his contract
Cap hit: $9.2m per year
Actual salary to be paid annually: $7.2m per year
Last three seasons: 21 minutes a game
Positive ES goal share in last five seasons except for this last one.
Nurse has value
Unless a team is tight tight tight against the rising cap, he is functionally a top 4 d-man with no injury history.
Any d-man in free agency would easily get his contract for four years.
Put me in the camp of be careful of what you wish for. Trading Nurse creates a hole.
He’s a good player and would many teams better. His weaknesses don’t suit the Oilers especially the direction Bowman is taking them, which is more puck moving and more physical
I agree bowman should take the team to more puck moving. Does Murphy fit that direction? In my opinion no.
No but he can make a pass. Every strong team has defense first defenseman. Nurse is on no man’s land on the Oilers. Balance
True.
I don’t expect Edmonton to eat any money on the trade I do think Oilers will take back a player that has money owing on the back-end or is overpaid by a few million like we all feel Nurse is. I do think that Nurse new team will have him on PP-2 at worst as we see D-men like Gostisberhere playing P.P in Carolina. I do think this trade has the potential for a win-win scenario.
1) Nurse in isolation definitely has value – teams would want him
2) Nurse a $9.25MM X 4 does not have positive value even without a smaller cash outlay
3) Trading Nurse in isolation makes the team worse
4) Trading Nurse but using $9.25MM of cap on other players likely improves the team
5) Trading Nurse is unlikely to create that much cap due to 2 above
The cap made a huge jump this year. You telling me the bottom 20 spending teams are going to be tight to the cap, so tight they wouldn’t take a free top 4 defenceman? I’m arguing the $7m actual salary is more the material liability that the actual cap hit.
There haven’t been any teams in recent years that have struggled to get to the cap floors and, while I have haven’t done the work, I don’t anticipate there will be any this season.
This isn’t a one-year commitment, its a four year commitment and I would suspect there are no teams that are making moves today with the goal of not being competitive in 2-3-4 years and want to take on bad cap. Teams may take it on (bad cap) but at a cost I would think.
Thanks
This is just speculation on my part, but Nurse requesting a trade, might be in part to nolonger feeling like the teammates have his back. 97 taking a 7M discount put the organization on notice, and turning a blind eye on 3M+ negative value isn’t feasible during a two year window.
I may be out of date, but any interest in Alexandar Georgiev, who is reportedly making a comeback bid?
Can he play left defense?
Or right D? I like Emberson but I don’t think he’s ready to be 2RD.
I’d take a flyer on him for $1M or Matt Murray who bounced back last season with a .922 in 5 games. I think the Oilers need a sure-fire number one and like 3 options for a 1B.
Nurse’s game fell off with the decline in our bottom 6 which started with the McLeod trade. Those 2022 to 2024 numbers are excellent and his recent numbers arent as bad as they seem – he played mostly with the bottom 6 and they’ve been awful the last two years.
2022-23 to 2023-24
Team goal share without McDrai or Nurse- 51%
Nurse goal share without McDrai – 55%
2024-25 to 2025-26
Team goal share without McDrai or Nurse – 40%
Nurse goal share without McDrai – 43%
I see this as a two way street and a coaching issue. The bottom 6 wasn’t full of bad or not NHL players, it’s been years since that was the case. A 9.25M D should have been driving results against weaker comp and helping the forwards produce. I haven’t like their offensive game for a while. I guess since Woody left, I only thought their defensive play was weak at that time
Nurse also often didn’t have a solid partner and that’s not his fault. But at the same time he’s not a great puck mover or passer
Agreed at that salary he should be driving results like BOUCH does. But not a bad defenseman.
I am so glad that Zach Hyman plays on this team. The post career, behind-the-scenes book on this era will be real and it will be spectacular.
And it’ll be illustrated. 🙂
It will feel good, and I will read it. But, there’s a lot not to feel good about. Can Zach Hyman, whom I admire (might be my favourite Oiler) write the real story? This current chapter, starting with the loss to the mighty Ducks, is dark.
Be ready for a Nurse for Graves trade from Pit. Dubas was his old GM from Junior. Just spent time with Crosby at WC. And Pitt has a ton of Cap space.
Saves $4.75mill per year. Big 6’5 LD. Yeah not a top 4.
($4.5 mill for 3 years left on his deal. And easy to buyout if needed). But he is a serviceable 3LD vet who saves us a ton of money and might be the only way we shed all of Nurse’s salary.
Use the savings to sign Murphy. And means we have a solid amount of money under the cap to go shopping for a 3C or an upgrade at top 6 winger or at goalie.
Graves is the exact player type that a deal happens with. Pitt can add something so the Oilers save face and Graves is overpaid by just enough that the Oilers can either use him as a #5/6 D or move him along to San Jose for a bag of peyote after paying this summer’s signing bonus as his cap hit is higher than his salary. Then they can get Murphy/Other RHD and Oleksiak or someone they do like as the #5 guy.
Where do I get this bag of peyote?
I need it to watch this Oilers management team operate this off-season.
You didn’t get yours? I thought everyone in Oilerville got one. That’s why it’s been a nightmare lately!
That series of moves makes the D worse. Making the D worse makes this team worse.
I would prefer to get a negative value contract like Graves at forward (such as Compher, backfill the back-end with Kulak (or similar).
Warning: Long Rambling Post with zero Non-Obvious Observations. Needed something to do on my lunch.
————————
Not sure how Oil win any Nurse trade where they retain.
A trade of Nurse + 2M retained (for instance), for a new Top 4 D Man (for instance), only helps the club if…
A) The cap implications a wash but New D better than Nurse (not impossible but not easy);
B) New D at least as good as Nurse (in the range) and cap savings on balance exceed whatever is retained (difficult);
C) Oil fleece team for cheaper better D with term or RFA status (good luck).
Whether the pieces coming back in a Nurse trade include a defenseman or not, the most likely outcome for replacing Nurse’s minutes, that I can see, is…
D) Some guy ‘in the range’ whose own salary + Nurse’s retained salary results in zero additional cap.
Musical chairs. Oil finish where they started but get their new face. Management claims a new day.
You might say okay then. Let’s trade garbage contract for garbage contract, no retention, so long as the incoming player has less term, or the annual hit is a little less, or the buyout implications are less onerous. But New Nurse + Buyout Penalty can’t be too high or again you’re spinning your wheels.
And if that incoming player sticks, they simply have to be material contributors to the next hunt for Stanley. The McDavid contract window means you can’t use this acquisition as a bridge to seasons beyond the forthcoming. It has to make a difference, on the ice, rfn.
Its tough tough tough.
It’s a callback to when Nurse hit free agency – you let him walk, you need yourself another Nurse.Tho had they walked him back then, the options for recovery were more numerous, would have followed the team into the season. Room to shuck, jive. Moving overpaid Nurse, now, a different kettle.
My breath is bated.
Like I argued last year, Frederic is by far the worst contract the team has signed. He’s not just overpaid, he’s blocking a spot and performing (actual production/GF) below replacement for a 4th liner.
With the rising cap, Nurse’s overpaid contract should not have been a distraction. It was Nurse’s overpay, Campbell’s buyout, Jarry overpay (and while I still have belief in Walman, the injury history/inconsistency has been troubling).
Carolina has Kotkaniemi at a bloated contract, and still has ample room to deal.
As a GM, you’re allowed to make a mistake or 2. Especially if you find deals to make up for them. I am sorry that losing Nurse is the fallout, because by all accounts, he is a good person, and in a more suitable role, has value.
I sincerely hope they do not eat any of his salary without getting a truly valuable piece back, and that they are locking up Murphy as we speak.
Seth Jones, being so similar in many ways, was traded at a 2.5/season hit for Spencer Knight and a first round pick, and Chicago still likely lost that trade.
I will take some hope in the fact that Bowman convinced Holland to take the full Keith contract. Maybe he can do it again?
Oilers – “We want to trade you”
Nurse – “Cool, here are my five teams”
Colorado
Knights
Ducks
Dallas
Wild
Oilers – “Ummmmmm”
Cool he can score some own goals on those teams.
But reportedly, Nurse did NOT do that. Two of the teams are reportedly LA and Pitt. Two teams which make it fairly easy for Bowman.
I understand that team matters-goaltending, defense, line mates coaching etc. However, how does McDavid compare to some of his historical contemporaries? How would his GF % compare to Crosby etc?
As Archetype mentioned earlier, what if this whole Babcock nonsense is just to piss off Gary and the boys, for taking Vegas’ side on the Cassidy business (which we all agree is ridiculous). It has definitely been a distraction from the Stanley Cup Final. I wouldn’t have thought the Oilers were that spiteful, but they’ve been on the wrong side of the NHL’s BS for a long time now.
It sure would be nice if someone played mind games with Babcock, and he was on the receiving end for a change…
Well if the thought is actually right and the Babs thing is a poke at the league and they still want Cassidy, that’s a pretty big mind game
Giving them way too much credit.
It ain’t that deep.
David Pagnotta
@TheFourthPeriod
Per sources, the Kings and Penguins are two teams Nurse would accept a trade to.
Ken Holland, ‘welcome home Darnell’
Nurse and Cecil. The magnificent duo. Together again.
Holland might trade Kempe for Nurse straight up.
Would a deal with Pittsburgh centered around Nurse and Rakell be possible?
Dubas owes us for the Jarry trade
Holland owes us for the nurse contract
More like Dubas will take Stan behind the woodshed a second time.
I know a negative value contract may need to come back but I do not want Ceci, Brian D or Edmundson….
Nurse for Ceci would be bad from a team perspective and I think the fanbase would literally explode on that one.
That would be the funniest outcome so highly likely to happen.
LT – your post today sounds like someone still traumatized by the Gretzky sale (or Gary Carter).
Pushing back whenever the glimmer twins are criticized, worried about “optics” and “feelings” of the star players.
Constructive criticism is not a bad thing.
McDavid and Leon are both brilliant offensive players, and no one is disputing that their prodigious talent (along with Bouchard’s) is key to any success that the Oilers will have. But last season, they were both defence optional players, puck chasing and generally never in the right defence posture at the right time to prevent goals against.
McDavid’s line got scored on … a lot … last season. He was guilty of puck watching and dogging it back on defence all season long. He was also trying score hero goals all the time … it cost Canada a gold medal.
Leon, and his buttonhook after entering the zone and then backhand prayer across the ice was occurring with regularity. being stubborn about only shooting from his office. A lot of low percentage hockey from both of them. They needed a coach who would get in their grill and tell them to knock it off. Apparently, KK was too timid to do that.
Last season should disabuse everyone of the idea that you can’t just turn it on before the playoffs and go on a Stanley run. That was just so much nonsense. The NHL is too hard for that no matter how much talent you have. A team has to have a culture and an identity that they start laying down from game 1 … last year, the Oilers identified was ” I can’t be bothered to care about the regular season.” KK let that culture fester … and that’s why he’s out of a job and McDavid is on the golf course.
Nobody is talking about trading the glimmer twins. But both of these players are getting dangerously close to being the answer to a rather dubious question … “who was the best player to never win a Cup with the team that drafted them?” Maybe the reason that Babcock is the coach they want, is because he had the stones to say the quiet part out loud.
So its always just the one person you want to hang for a loss? Last I checked there was a whole team playing for Olympics and McDavid was the best player on the ice. No matter, he cost Canada the gold medal.
The Oilers got everybody’s best game. And McDavid gets everybody’s best game. They want to test themselves.
Why won’t the GM provide some help?
Why won’t the coach play some help?
You mimic the Toronto fanbase. As long as everything is on McDavid, its just gets too dam heavy.
Why didn’t coach savant Cooper drill Team Canada for three on three scenarios…?
Tho for the record I do kinda blame McD for ending that OT before it began.
“Last season should disabuse everyone of the idea that you can’t just turn it on before the playoffs and go on a Stanley run. That was just so much nonsense”
Vegas is literally doing that right now.
“the Oilers identified was ” I can’t be bothered to care about the regular season.”
That’s not how quotes work and it wasn’t can’t be bothered. There wasn’t arrogance in it.
“He was also trying score hero goals all the time … it cost Canada a gold medal.”
Cale Makar, the actual defenceman, was also caught up ice. But don’t get in the way of a good nonsense run.
“stubborn about only shooting from his office”
10 points in 6 games in the playoffs when it matters btw.
“who was the best player to never win a Cup with the team that drafted them?”
Did you know Wayne wasn’t drafted by the Oilers?
“because he had the stones to say the quiet part out loud.”
The thing this blog has harped on for an entire year?
Advanced stats had Vegas as being a good team all season that was being undone by their goaltending.
Yes, Makar was culpable too … but those three players had been out for over a minute; all three of them needed to get off the ice. McDavid needed to hold possession, let Makar and MacK change and then let the next line have a go at attacking the US defence with fresh legs. Instead, he decided to go 1-on-3. It was just the wrong thing to do at that time, and he should’ve known better.
The Oilers got spanked by Anaheim … I don’t think Leon cared how many points he scored.
Vegas did not have a full lineup at any time this season until well into the playoffs.
Neither did the Oilers really.
No, I don’t feel a need to worry about the feelings of any player. My points were made in regard to both players delivering (as always) at a high level. I think your post does an excellent job of revealing your position, though, and I thank you for posting.
My position always been consistent. Yes, they deliver at a high level on offence.
But defence wins Cups … until those two commit as hard to preventing goals as they do scoring them, there won’t be any Stanley parades in E-town.
There is no reason why McDavid and Draisaitl can’t be top 10 annually in plus minus.
I know I know plus minus is a terrible stat.
Is it safe to assume Nurse’s agent would have spoken with the 3 – 5 teams to gauge interest prior to submitting the list to the Oilers?
Nurse and his rep presented the Oilers with a list a week ago. There have been many conversations. Darnell is ready for a change.
https://x.com/darrendreger/status/2065147384565272818?s=61
No, I wouldn’t say that’s safe to say.
Presumably, if you take Nurse’ action of asking for a trade at face value, with a list in hand, a competent agent would want to facilitate a trade for his client and make a few calls before hand wouldn’t he?
Its a possibility but I don’t think its close to a certainty – hence my response.
Agents generally have some idea of who is/isn’t interested. If this is a play by Nurse to not leave, then he knows. If it’s a play to end up in his chosen destination, then he probably has. We know LA and Pitt are on his list and we know he knows both GMs as he played for them. I’d assume he knows whether they have interest but he could know that they aren’t interested too.
The Oilers should absolutely NOT retain on a Nurse trade. Do that and you’re not improving the cap position of the hockey club. You’re just making a lateral move and creating a roster hole.
Darnell wants out? Fine. The team needs to find a trade partner that wants to pay his full freight.
Why would we pay the next husband alimony?
After all that has happened around Nurse, how do you come to the conclusion that “Darnell wants out” as if he has slighted the team by asking out. As if he has done something.
He has read the news, heard the fans, knows hes not wanted.
The org is shoving him out the door. When that’s the situation, you pay.
Nurse requested the trade.
Darnell wants out because the org wants him out – I believe.
Ken Holland, you’re our only hope.
Caleb Jones (Jacob Moverare?) and a 3rd for Nurse’s full cap hit.
Brandt Clarke needs a veteran mentor to pair with, just like Bouchard did. Youbknow you wanna!
I think we’d be having to take back one of Dumoulin or Edmondson in a deal with LA.
Nurse would get paired up with Ceci!
With Doughty soon to exit, Clarke will have Mikey Anderson to mentor him.
Doughty is going to play till he is 65.
Ekholm would be an excellent mentor for Clarke. On the oilers.
With the news of Nurse’s likely departure, one name I’m keen on EDM pursuing to fill the void is pending RFA Emil Andrae out of PHI. With an influx of more skilled RD (Drysdale, Jiricek, and Bonk) and York already up the lineup, I could see them being more inclined to stick with Seeler as their 3LD. He’s a small Dman whose strength is his mind but he’s also stocky and more feisty than you’d expect from a 5’9 Swedish D.
Ekholm Bouchard
Walman Murphy
Andrae Emberson
(swap Stastney for a bigger LD; maybe Vaakanainen?)
Why do I get the feeling the machinations at Oiler HQ this week would make a stellar season of Succession?
Be careful what you wish for…er…be careful what you wished for, all you Nurse haters.
I think it’s fair to say that Nurse is a good player but the wrong fit for where the team is at currently.
I imagine he’ll be missed at times after he sails on.
Like I say, the cap space could be used wisely or Bowman could squander it on another Mangiapane. How he spends it will determine whether moving on from Nurse is a wise move.
Agreed. If he moves we’ll see the same regret comments we see for McLeod. It’s hard to move in the direction the team and core want to go with guys that don’t have strong hockey sense. Nurse is a good player, but his game sense to me isn’t the greatest
Nurse doesn’t play the way he needs to, the way he did when he was emerging, and by some reports, which may not be accurate, doesn’t see himself as that type of player
Long ago Cogliano was in the same boat. Saw himself as a 1st line C, with another opinion had a long career as a bottom 6 defensive type
Wrong fit?
Oilers vs a wet paper bag.
With Nurse they have a chance.
Nurse is not a $9.5M defenceman. That’s inherent cap inefficiency. Recognizing this doesn’t necessarily make one a “hater.” It could also signify fans that want mgmt to do better with the resources they have at their disposal.
True. But what i hear from others outside this blog is a huge amount of anti-nurse. I think he and his family hear it too.
The thing to keep in mind with social media is 10% of its users generate 90% of the content. The outraged and obsessed dominate the conversation, but they’re not representative of how the larger masses truly feel. The mushy middle is a lot more reasonable and balanced than the fanatics at both ends of the spectrum.
The haters were hating when he was on an entry level contract, on the transition deal, on the 2nd transition deal, and on his current deal.
That sounds consistent with the behaviour one would associate with a ‘hater.’. Doesn’t mean that everyone who views the contract as cap inefficient is a hater. That’s just an ad hominem tactic imo. If you want to defend the cap hit, then try and make the case for it without resorting to name calling. I’d love to hear the evidence.
it Entirely depends what the trade/retention is. If they have to retain 2.5-3M they likely still have a cap inefficiency. If they have to give up significant value Thats not great either. If Stan can get rid of the whole contract for free it’s a huge win though
Agreed. The goal has to be to trade him with no retention. Otherwise you’re not improving, it’s a lateral move.
not perfect, but he’s always been an innings eater (to use some LT/Expos parlance)
I think its a fair assessment to say best case scenario for Nurse is he has a great season and lives up to his contract. When thats the best case scenario, he’s not a good investment.
Got to assume the Blues are all over this given his history of dominating the playoffs with Broberg, right?
Moving Darnell Nurse is certainly NOT addition by subtraction like some (many) across Oil Nation opine.
Take Darnell Nurse out of the lineup and the team is NOT better, in fact, they are worse, materially, even with the odd deflected goal in and “unforced icing” and “puck chase”.
Of course, no debating that he is not near value for $9.25MM, even with the cap where it is, and, of course, today its not about how good a player is on the ice but how much value they provide for cap hit and he underperforms his cap hit.
I would say, if Nurse was a UFA, for a four year term he’d likely get something in the $6.5MM-$7MM range. Managers will value his durability, his experience, his leadership, his ability to play 20 plus minutes ever night, his willingness to block shots., etc.
I don’t know what this trade looks like. How many of the 3-5 teams want him to start with? Maybe all 5 but how many want him at $9.25MM, likely none, right?
Retain $2MM and maybe he’s tradable for a depth player. The Oilers then need to upgrade on Stastney with part of that $7MM in cap savings, right?
I’m totally fine with Ek and Walman as 1 and 2 LD nightly but, of course, willl Walman be available nightly and, when available, will he be 100% as we know his game can suffer if his mobility is limited
This will be very intriguing to see how it plays out.
Thanks for this post, and I largely agree.
I think with $2M retained, Nurse suddenly becomes a helluva second pairing d-man. Also, if he no longer feels like he has to be “the man” on the back end, he may start playing looser and could end up playing his best hockey.
I think I’m going to miss him.
This is a positive development. Bowman can work with Nurse and his agent to find a comfortable landing spot for him.
Bowman will have the latitude to re-architect this team … he needs to make wise additions to replace Nurse.
That could be the issue. The re-architecture. Love him or hate Nurse is a substantial D, they better get something at least on par with him or the D is pooched for next season.
Replacing nurse,s 20-25 minutes a night is a risk. Hopefully it turns out to be a worthwhile risk…. I agree with OP that healthy Walman and Ekholm can cover the top 2 pairs.
Then someone like zellweger has room to grow and over take one of them.
I like Walman. When is Walman healthy?
I wouldn’t mind a reunion with Brett Kulak (as 3LD).
If Walman is taking Nurses spot then another top 4 RHD should be the priority. If not, this just makes the team weaker.
you should be able to get two really good players with Nurse Cap hit
I think the prediction is the Murphy is back.
I would think Oilers will take some money back that is hopefully a better fit. Sometimes both teams and players win in a trade with a fresh start.
Im nitpicking your hypoerbole here, because your logic afterwards is accurate, but in a cap world, any player thats performing 3-4 million under his cap allotment, being traded, is by definition, addition by subtraction.
There are those that think the Nurse out of the lineup, in isolation, no other changes (except adding the first healthy scratch in) makes the team better.
Connor signs two years declines a pay raise.
Conner says about Cooper “everybody knew exactly where to go”
Connor, “we need to be better, including coaches”
Connor ” we want to be coached harder” this means held accountable. They know they are making mistakes. They also asking for more structure, more direction.
Drai ” we are not getting better, a names off several traded players”
Connor “we are mediocre”
Coffey added to bench
I conclude: coaching was not good, not strong enough across the board. This resulted in search for new coach. Jackson – no accountability
I also conclude roster building was not good enough. Not enough help. This was not heard, the same dumb-dumbs running the show. Bowman – no accountability
Same guys now shove Connor out front center stage saying “well, he interviewed the man”
In addition: I wonder if they went to the leaders on the team and asked how they felt about Darnell Nurse? Doubtful. Suddenly their opinion doesn’t matter.
Edmonton hates Nurse. Writers hate Nurse. The org is a circus and the circus is putting pressure on him.
Nurse doesnt waive his no move – he says muck you guys, trade me.
What a way to treat a player. The org/media et al are disappointing.
Morgan Reilly for Nurse?
On the Babcock front, I think the leadership group probably did sign off on bringing him in. But they won’t be terrorized by him, it’ll be the Savoie/Podkolzin/Howard types that will be the target of all the bullying.
Had some friends go to the world championships – feedback was Reilly was terrible and Nurse not much better.
verbal from Shannon and others seem to agree with you that’s is the newbies and bottom 1/2 of the roster players that get terrorized by Babs
I agree with your some friends. Reilly is not good. However his contract straight across is slightly less bad.
If its heading down that route then its for the leadership group to ensure it does not happen, right?
The oilers will be playing games next season at northlands collesium.
Next year oilers will be wearing pink polka dots on their jerseys.
Nurse will ask for a trade
babcock will be the oilers coach.
bill ranford will play goal for the oilers next year.
LT will be the new GM for the oilers.
I would have bet against all of these a week ago…. Well maybe not LT for GM
Have to say, I wasn’t thrilled about the Bowman hire in general but after some time in, I really dislike this management team. Ho Hum I guess winning solves all issues. I hope 97, Leon et al win at least one despite all of this.
3-5 team list does not leave much room to deal.
You only need 1
Its more teams that I thought – I’ve been saying that we likely have a market of 0-3 teams to deal with.
I thought you’ve been saying that he won’t waive his NMC (young family, new house, part of the leadership).
Yes, hence my reference to ZERO – 3 teams above.
I didn’t think he would waive his clause – that was my opinion, never a fact or posted as a certainty.
McDavid could easily have signed for 3 million more, but he does not. He decides to give back to the team and stay at 12.5.
Nurse haters dislike Nurse at 9m. But his buddy who wants him on the team just gave back 3M to Oilers cap space.
Nurse is now a 6m dollar contract.
What’s the problem?
I cannot tell if this is a joke or not haha.
Not meant as a joke really.
I mean McDavid gave back. He wants the assistant captain on the team. Hes providing opportunity to Bowman.
For us fans we can consider that opportunity blown on Frederic, or Nurse cap hit down by 3M, depends how you want to view it.
What we cannot see from our seats, what we cannot measure by math is the importance of the entire team being a team, playing for each others. Some team mates make you want to try harder, play bigger, refuse to quit. Its important to retain these relationships as much as possible.
No, just another example of how kaffooy this place has become.
The problem is that McD already promised that 3M to Freddy, so we’re stuck with Nurse at 9.25
I think some of that $3M also went to Walman…
And will soon go to Murphy.
At this rate I think we need Connor at like $7m to make the Nurse contract work.
Make it happen Stan!
Bowman bluffed Babcock hire to get nurse to bow out.
Now back to Cassidy.
I’m Joking….. I think.
Who knows? Tune in next week to find out!
*Camera flips to a man cackling while petting his cat watching his puppets dance on screen.
*Camera pans up to see Slats with an insane look in his eye.
Fade to black with ‘The End’.
A question mark slowly fades into view.
The End?
Meh…..I’m not using the “over played excuse”
The 80’s Oilers
5 Stanley Cups (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990
6 Stanley Cup Final appearances between 83-90
Reached at least the division final in 7 of 8 seasons
Until last year, I have never heard of playoff burnout.
The roster wasn’t good, the coaching was poor and the players knew it.
sound a lot more likely than playoff burnout out.
Over the past 5 seasons, the Oilers have played 491 regular season and playoff games
The Hurricanes 482 and Knights 475 and counting.
The burnout stuff is nonsense.
Before someone says…ya but Olympics.
Vegas had 9 players participate
Carolina had 5
Oilers had 3
And we know how wrong you are on just about everything.
A core few that carry a team with lack of depth being tired from too much time on ice is not nonsense especially after 2 losses in a final to the same team. The panthers showed that this season after 3 though not 2.
Especially going fully through to the final and having a shorter off season.
The Panthers nosedive was almost assuredly losing the most man games to injury by a very wide margin.
Imagine if the Oilers #1C was on IR for the entire season.
Injuries are often closely associated with fatigue or not allowing tissue recovery. With the panthers as well as with the oilers this was likely a factor.
bugger off would you please
Players fly charter – Have access to the finest dinning – have the absolute best in fitness coaches – Have the absolute best nutritionist- have the absolute best sleeping arrangements- have the best physiotherapist- have the best massage therapists
burnout is an absolute excuse.
Burnout is absolutely real. This is an undeniable fact.
Agree to disagree dude. Having all the access to the best stuff still doesnt take away the fact that humans fatigue, get injuries, get mentally drained, get bummed out, etc etc.
Players are also human and burnout is real and proven by science.
You do realize you can’t count this year’s playoffs in Vegas’ and Carolina’s totals, right?
Why?
Would that not burn them out?
Possibly for next season. Although Carolina has had an easier path than most.
For this past season? No, no it wouldn’t
2004 NJ Devils after losing in the first round on being tire from playing in 3 SCF over 4 years.
Brodeur: “We’ve played a lot of hockey the last two years. When you play that much, you need everybody to be at the top of their game to win in the playoffs. We just didn’t have that extra gear this time. Mentally and physically, it catches up to you.”
Also Brodeur: “It’s hard to repeat, not just because other teams play you harder, but because your summer is so short. You start the next season already feeling like you haven’t fully recovered from the last one. By the time you hit April again, the tank is empty.”
Brylin: “There’s been a lot of hockey, a lot of games, and guys are tired mentally. It’s tough when you’re chasing the game and you don’t have that fresh energy to push back.”
Elias: “You try to find that playoff switch, but sometimes your body just won’t cooperate. We fought hard all year to get back here, but we were spent.”
Madden: “Every hit hurts a little more, and every stride takes a little more out of you when you haven’t had a real off-season in two years. Philadelphia was the fresher team, and it showed.”
excellent post!
How about you do your comparison over 2 or 3 years
How many went to the final and didn’t win in back to back years.
I think that the stats dept should look into injuries. If they are trying to be modern they should be able to figure out things that affect it. Of course a lot is random, but a lot would be technique, hit volumes for and against etc
It was a thing many noticed about young Hall getting hit so much and Broberg getting blown up
This is likely done to some point by some organizations. Walman being injured often is peculiar to me.
His very thick lower body build I would think would be not injury prone. He also skates well and can avoid contact and doesn’t play an overly rugged game.
His bone bruise injury last season is likely random. Or is it. The new way to block shots( knee down sideways) seems to be inviting injuries but that’s how it’s taught.
To Wash – Nurse, 1st.
To Edm – Wilson, Chisholm.
At his cap hit, Nurse has negative value.
Thanks for another incorrect take.
Washington wins that trade hands down
Great do it.
Nurse will likely go elsewhere and pull a Seth Jones. He may have warts but he is not as bad as everyone says. He finally gave in and got ran out of town.
That’s the spirit!
Nurse can singlehandedly run over the entire Oilers forwards line up and nobody can stop him.
Oilers will never go anywhere until they can play with some toughness. They got nothing. Knoblauch didnt think they needed any and he was wrong.
Replace Nurse cap hit with Kyrou?
They just don’t get it. What have they done.
He could run over the entire Hurricanes forward core too. He’d have to because he would never have the puck.
I don’t enjoy the summer hockey doldrums, so I just wanted to thank the Oilers for working to entertain me/us this summer. Doing a bang up job!
LOL they did and done.
Good gord, I said to my bro n law, I am going out to buy my Habs Jersey!
Sacrilege!
Hard to be a fan of this team! but I keep staying.
Oilers are going to end up hiring Sutter.
Whether it’s him, Gallant or someone else, Babcock is not going to make it to the starting line.
You can at least say that Bowman and other’s did things to demonstrate contrition. Babcock does not seem to have done anything and I think the NHLPA investigation will turn up more things that make this hire impossible.
How has Bowman demonstrated contrition when at the first sign of trouble he races to Mike Babcock?
He learned absolutely nothing.
Comment was not in reference to his player acquisition/cap management skills. It was in his player relation skills.
Sometimes your sarcasm is a little over the top. Please take a minute and breathe. You add a lot to the conversation here for the most part.
They’ve interviewed multiple candidates while also being denied their main target, and in return for being denied their main target, they’ve created a PR mess for the NHL to deal with while their trophy is being battled for.
He never raced to Babcock, he released the PR nitemare into the wild once the league decided to back Vegas for the millionth time.
You’ve learned absolutely nothing apparently.
Bowman has done great with this imo.
I vote for Bob Hartley. He’s won and has the right amount of controversy.
Haha. The ‘right’ amount of controversy is an important asset.
Nurse can skate doesn’t get hurt he also is a minute muncher. Nurse may end up getting PP2 or even some of PP1 minutes on his new team. I do hope he goes out East and crushes it.
He was being crushed in Edmonton.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/why-oilers-may-be-looking-to-move-on-from-darnell-nurse/
This is not true and has been refuted. Nurse was injured, his minutes cut back due to injury. Spector is dumb.
Read the linked article.
It was NOT written by Spector.
I hope nurse does well wherever that is. I don’t see him as a pp guy at all tho.
Friedman reporting that Nurse has gone to the org and asked for a trade…….
He’s provided a list of 3-5 teams….
Wow!
Wow, wasn’t expecting this. Though it makes sense that he feels it’s time to move on
Youch, but no doubt. The media has been screaming this. He is likely sick and tired of this bull crap that the Oil media and managment are.
I hope that this is the real reason that Stauffer iterated his faith in McDavid’s commitment, not the other thing.
Who am I kidding, of course it’s the other thing.
More:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/sources-darnell-nurse-asks-for-trade-agrees-its-time-to-move-from-oilers/
Respect for Nurse if he left the ‘leadership’ meeting by saying “I’m not playing for that pos Babcock – here’s my list of trade destinations”
I was wondering why when Spec was talking about which leadership players spoke to Babcock Nurse wasn’t mentioned. I guess we know why
2 Mutts (FWIW) said one Oilers player said he would not play for Babcock and would explore a trade. Maybe it was Nurse.
Maybe the Babcock thing is a smokescreen to get Nurse to waive…
Bowman wants to trade Nurse.I understand the reasons but who is replacing Nurse? I don’t get it. Ferraro (at a lower cap?) I just read Nurse would go to philly… tippet could be involved (I don’t believe most of the rumours really) So bring back tippet and sign a Ferraro type?
Are those 2 greater than Nurse? I would say yes but am hesitant due to the injury with Tippet
Far better. This would be a heist. I doubt those deals are there, but if they are, I take them all day long.
Ferraro is a UFA – projected contract less than what Nurse makes.
Oil would have to sweeten a Nurse to philly with Tippet involved, its possible but so are a lot of things.
Word this morning that the Oilers dangled Nurse in a trade for Flyers prospect Jett Luchanko but were turned down.
Luchanko is a 19 year right shot centre drafted 13th overall in 2024.
Interesting.
Tocchet turned Zegras 180 I do think Nurse will have the same result under Tocchet.
Not sure.
Can you teach hockey sense?
I agree.
I think Nurse would look good in a Philly sweater. Kinda sounds like Philly is one of the teams on Nurse list. Philly has a lot of talent boiling under in saying that they are ready to make a push and obtaining Nurse could be a win-win for both teams.
Tippet will be recovering from sports Hernia surgery.
yes i mentioned the injury
Well as long as it’s not a high ankle hernia.
Already is – expected to be 100% for camp.
He is signed long term at a value contact – the injury should not impact acquisition (unless they can use it to lower acquisition cost).
Of course he is, and his name is being tossed around in trade rumors.
Walman replaces Nurse as 2LD and he is fully capable. Issue is health and two-fold (1) missing games and (2) playing through injury decreasing his abilities (he saw limited mobility crater his game last season.
If Nurse is traded, a strong 3LD is needed – something like a Kulak.