Darnell Nurse says he is ready to move on. As in, somewhere other than Edmonton next fall. As in, he is done being an Oiler.
So, is this a one-off situation, or does it signal the beginning of the end for an Oilers team that spent last season in a steady decline?
With SportsNet reporting that Nurse has requested a trade, it is clear that one of the longest-serving Oilers has seen enough and agrees that it is time to move on.
Now, requesting a trade is one way to frame it. Another way is that he has agreed to lift his no-movement clause after being told for the second consecutive summer that the Oilers want to trade him.
Either way, semantics aside, the bottom line is that it is no small thing that a cornerstone of the Edmonton Oilers leadership group — a player who has lived and played here his entire career, is raising a family in the city, and has sworn loyalty to the organization — says he would welcome a change of scenery.
Can Nurse see the writing on the wall? That the Oilers are heading in the wrong direction and appear to be a dysfunctional mess? With his very close friend Connor McDavid entering the last year or two of his contract in Edmonton, does Nurse know something we do not? Does he look at the embarrassing dumpster fire management has created with its coaching situation and lose confidence in their ability to keep this team in a Stanley Cup window?
Is this the start of an exodus?
Or is this purely a personal decision — that the criticism he faces in this market because of his salary, and the understanding that the Oilers plan to trade him next year anyway, finally forced his hand?
By agreeing to lift his no-movement clause now, Nurse can dictate to some extent where he ends up. Reports indicate he has submitted a short list of teams for which he will lift his no-movement clause. Had he waited until next summer, the only protection he would have is a 10-team no-trade list.
Better now, when he can choose his landing spot, than being left at the mercy of the general manager next year?
It is probably a bit of both: part personal, part big picture.
What we know for sure is that after a mediocre regular season and a bitterly disappointing first-round playoff exit, followed by stinging criticism of the organization from McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, this summer is not doing much to restore anyone's confidence in the Oilers.
From a team perspective, pressing to move on from Nurse's $9.25 million contract with four years remaining, and trading one of the most popular players in the dressing room, is the kind of cold, businesslike move that clubs need to make. Ask yourself: what would Vegas do?
