This summer, the Edmonton Oilers will have the chance to consider their trade that sent Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks.
The Sharks and Oilers will play each other on Saturday. Nurse will play his previous club for the first time.
Nurse spent his first 12 seasons in the NHL playing for Edmonton after being selected by the Oilers with the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.
He played 798 games for Edmonton and racked up 88 goals and 236 assists for a total of 324 points. One of the most physically fit players in the league, he also had 1,629 hits and 1,466 blocked shots.
Nurse, however, was acquired by the Sharks from the Oilers during the off-season.
He has recorded a goal and already played four games for San Jose.
Nurse told reporters on Friday that “one of the finest things I ever learned from playing in a market like that is to be psychologically strong, to just concentrate on what you can control and let the rest take care of itself.” “The emblem alone, right? You simply glance at the emblem after wearing it for such a long time. It will be odd.
Why Did Oilers Trade Darnell Nurse?
The Oilers were seeking two things: Salary cap relief and an opportunity to change their defense unit’s appearance.
Nurse is still under a contract that runs through the 2029–30 season and has a cap hit of $9.25 million.
In recent years, his performance has also deteriorated.
As he heard the murmurs, Nurse also made it obvious that he was open to a trade.
The Oilers chose the Sharks specifically for one other major reason: San Jose didn’t want Edmonton to pay any of the salary. The Sharks were willing to pay the remaining value on Nurse’s contract.
They were the logical team to approach because of that. However, the Oilers were content to take Nurse off the books since Zack Sharp and Shakir Mukhamadullin were part of the deal.
Why the Sharks Acquired Darnell Nurse
It was also logical for the Sharks, who had enough cap space to make it work and are a much younger team than Edmonton.
Nurse has the opportunity to lead a Sharks team that is still learning to win. He may transition from being a veteran presence on a young club to simply being one piece of an older squad.
San Jose hopes to make a special run in the years ahead under the leadership of Macklin Celebrini, but even with the talent, it is not always easy for a team to break through.
The Sharks are optimistic that Nurse’s presence will help them advance.
Oilers head coach Ryan Warsofsky said to reporters on Friday, “He’s been awesome. Again, first and foremost, a fantastic person.” “Team member. He’s really in excellent shape. He plays with a snarl and attitude, but he knows what it takes to win at this level. He’s been an invaluable addition to our group, on the ice, off the ice, as a leader.”
