The Edmonton Oilers made several moves during NHL free agency, including trading defenseman Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks and signing goaltender Frederik Andersen. The team also addressed their blue line by acquiring Ryan Shea, while former Oiler Brett Kulak signed a five-year, $22.5 million extension with the Colorado Avalanche.
Darnell Nurse Trade Brings Affordable Blue-Line Help
The Oilers traded Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks, receiving former first-round pick Shakir Mukhamadullin and prospect Zack Sharp in return. This move sheds Nurse's $9.25 million cap hit, providing financial relief. According to reporter Gerry Moddejonge, "Good on Oilers general manager Stan Bowman for finally getting that whopper of a contract off his cap." However, the timing meant the Oilers lacked the extra cap space when free agency opened Wednesday.
Goaltending Addressed with Andersen Signing
Edmonton signed goaltender Frederik Andersen to address their netminding issues. One fan noted, "Freddie Andersen playing behind Carolina’s D is one thing, and Andersen playing behind that Oilers D is completely different challenge … but we’ll see how it plays out, still an upgrade from Jarry!" The Oilers previously traded Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Tristan Jarry, a move that did not pan out.
Brett Kulak Signs with Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche signed Edmonton-born defenseman Brett Kulak to a five-year, $22.5 million extension, averaging $4.5 million per season. This is a significant raise from his $2.75 million salary on the Oilers' third pairing. Kulak impressed the President's Trophy-winning team after joining late and playing a top-four role in the playoffs.
Ryan Shea Deal Raises Questions
The Oilers signed free-agent defenseman Ryan Shea to a five-year, $20 million contract, averaging $4 million per season. While Bowman addressed the penalty kill, some question the value of the deal compared to Kulak's contract. The Oilers' strategy of relying on no-movement clauses has been criticized for limiting flexibility.
