There are two versions of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse. One is a solid NHL defenseman with valuable contributions. The other, unfortunately, has been a recurring problem in the playoffs for five consecutive seasons.
Regular Season vs. Playoff Performance
During the regular season, Nurse generally moves the puck effectively, defends with an edge, and produces points. While not a top-pairing defenseman by NHL standards, he is a reliable second-pairing option. His $9.25 million salary may seem high, but he is not a grossly overpaid underperformer. If Nurse played in the playoffs as he does in the regular season, fan complaints would likely be minimal. However, a growing faction of Edmonton supporters is frustrated with his postseason play, calling for a position change or a trade.
Regular-season Nurse takes his man, completes passes, contributes offensively, and maintains a solid plus-minus. In contrast, playoff Nurse gets beaten on the rush, struggles with passing, frequently ices the puck, sees his point production and plus-minus drop, and appears out of place in a top-four defensive role. The Oilers have consistently struggled to find a partner who complements Nurse in the playoffs, though Connor Murphy provided some stability this year.
Basic Numbers Tell the Story
Over the past five seasons, Nurse has played 392 regular-season games with a plus-minus of +46 and 167 points. In 79 playoff games over the same period, he has 24 points and an even plus-minus of 0. This stark contrast highlights a decline in two-way effectiveness and scoring in the postseason.
Advanced Analytics Confirm the Drop
A more detailed analysis using Grade A shots plus-minus at even strength reveals the same trend. A defenseman performing outstandingly has a plus-minus of +0.50 to +1.00 per game; great is 0.00 to +0.50; good is 0 to -0.50; average-to-iffy is -0.50 to -1.00; and below -1.00 indicates serious harm to the team's chances.
Nurse's regular-season Grade A shots plus-minus over the last five years: 2021-22: -0.77; 2022-23: -0.41; 2023-24: -0.68; 2024-25: -0.01; 2025-26: -0.30. These numbers range from iffy to good. However, his playoff numbers are consistently worse: 2022: -1.03; 2023: -0.94; 2024: -1.51; 2025: -1.00; 2026: -1.43. This indicates he has significantly harmed the Oilers' winning chances each postseason.
The reasons for this decline are unclear. It may be that Nurse's tendency to try to do too much leads to positional wandering, exacerbated in the high-stakes playoff environment. Alternatively, as the game speeds up, his reading of the play may not keep pace. In the most recent playoffs, he notably struggled to complete passes.
