Darnell Nurse traded to San Jose, closing 12-year Oilers chapter
The veteran defenceman departs after becoming a lightning rod for criticism in Edmonton, ending his time with the only franchise he'd played for.
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Darnell Nurse is no longer an Oiler. The 31-year-old defenceman has been traded to the San Jose Sharks, ending a 12-year tenure that began when he arrived in Edmonton as an 18-year-old rookie with no guarantee he'd last even one season.
Nurse leaves as the seventh-longest serving Oiler in franchise history with 798 games played. He would have passed Glenn Anderson (845) and Mark Messier (851) next season had he stayed. Over those 12 years, he planted deep roots—marrying, raising three sons, wearing a letter for a team he thought he'd finish his career with. He made two trips to the Stanley Cup Final.
"I had lots of good memories in Edmonton, but now that chapter closes," Nurse said. "It was time for a change. It was just time. I had some deep roots, some great moments, a lot of great memories and friends."
The trade clears $9.25 million in cap space. In return, Edmonton receives a Russian blueliner with 83 games of NHL experience and a college prospect.
Toward the end, Nurse became a focal point for fan frustration. When the team couldn't score or missed the playoffs, criticism flowed his way. He heard it, read it, and eventually—with management looking to trade him for a second straight summer—decided the relationship had run its course. "There is nobody who expects more of themselves than me," he said of the pressure. "There were things, when you have a high cap hit," that contributed to the tension, though he declined to elaborate.
