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Oilers rumors: Darnell Nurse is interested in being traded to Flyers
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- Oilers rumors: Darnell Nurse is interested in being traded to Flyers
Oilers rumors: Darnell Nurse is interested in being traded to Flyers appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Trade speculation surrounding veteran defenseman Darnell Nurse continues to gain momentum, with both the player and the Edmonton Oilers reportedly open to ending their long-standing partnership .
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The Philadelphia Flyers are among the teams on Nurse's preferred list of destinations as discussions about his future intensify, according to Jackie Spiegel of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Nurse, 31, has spent all 12 of his NHL seasons with Edmonton and is entering the fifth year of his eight-year contract carrying a $9.25 million annual cap hit. The deal includes a full no-movement clause through the 2026-27 season before transitioning to a modified no-trade clause in 2027-28, allowing him to submit a 10-team trade list.
The veteran blueliner remains a productive player despite questions surrounding his contract value. During the 2025-26 campaign, Nurse finished with seven goals and 24 points in 82 games while blocking 167 shots, the ninth-highest total in the NHL. He also recorded 164 shots on goal, tied for 20th among NHL defensemen. However, he had a minus-12 rating, his lowest plus-minus since 2015-16, and accumulated a career-high 104 penalty minutes while averaging just under 21 minutes per game, his lowest ice time since his third NHL season.
Over his career, Nurse has produced four seasons with at least 10 goals and five seasons with 25 or more assists. His best offensive season came in 2022-23 when he tallied 43 points, while his career-high goal total is 16.
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Philadelphia has been linked to defensive upgrades this offseason, particularly with defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen continuing to surface in trade rumors. Nurse's experience could appeal to the Flyers, especially given his multiple Stanley Cup Final appearances and 798 NHL games played.
The largest obstacle remains financial. While the Flyers are projected to have substantial cap space, the Oilers would need to retain part of Nurse's salary to facilitate a deal. A 50% retention would reduce his cap hit to $4.625 million, potentially making a top-four role in Philadelphia a more realistic possibility as the Flyers evaluate changes to their blue line.
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