Oilers land mean defenseman, but an unexpected twist changes everything
The Bruins lost a deal for Darnell Nurse when Nikita Zadorov put a stop to a trade to the Edmonton Oilers.
According to various sources, such as PuckEmpire, the Bruins defender declined to forgo his trade protection this week this week.
The rejection was important. So much.
According to David Pagnotta, there was a rumored agreement between Edmonton and Boston for Nurse. Zadorov caused it to be canceled.
Nikita Zadorov reportedly declined to forgo his trade protection in order to join the Edmonton Oilers, according to several sources, including PuckEmpire.
According to David Pagnotta, Edmonton and Boston had a deal on the table for Nurse, but it was cancelled.
Give that some thought for a moment. A trade between two playoff-caliber teams disintegrates because of one player’s signature, or lack thereof.
Zadorov isn’t a throwaway piece either. He had 22 points in 81 games this year and a plus-18 rating, which was one of Boston’s top behind-the-scenes performances.
He’s been a steal at $5,000,000 against the cap for what he contributes to the blue line. He has been relied on by Sturm throughout the entire season.
Why Boston was eager to avoid the Zadorov math
In contrast, Nurse has a cap penalty of $9,250,000, the tenth-highest among all NHL defensemen. This season, in 82 games with Edmonton, he had a minus-12 rating and 24 points.
Stan Bowman was likely trying to sell him in the first place because that’s a difficult return for that much money.
The Oilers defeated the Bruins 3-1 in Boston in December, and the Bruins responded with a 6-2 victory in Edmonton on New Year’s Eve, sharing their season series.
So this wasn’t some hypothetical fit. The teams are both fully aware of what the other has to offer.
No-trade protection has a flaw. Its purpose is to give players a voice in their own lives. But it also implies that front offices might develop a full strategy around a player, only to see it fail if he refuses.
Now Don Sweeney must decide where Boston’s blue line will go from this point forward. Since, whatever the plan was with Nurse, it is over.
And Zadorov? He remains a Bruin. Just for the time being.
