Friedman: Darnell Nurse requests a trade

[Deranged Oreo]

HFBoards posters have no bearing on the players value. We know based on reporting from Friedman that there is legitimate interest in Nurse. Old style management groups (like PHI or LA) love players with Nurse's archetype. Similarly, nepo organizations like Vancouver (or Edmonton if this were a player on a different team) do not operate rationally and trade for players their owner wants.

And reports from Dreger that Nurse is perceived as borderline untradeable without sweeteners.

 

[Lunatik]

Outside Rogers:

 

[Czechboy]

You were quoting a poster who directly responded to me and the response was directed at what I stated

Perhaps go back and look at my comments from the start of the thread. My theme hasn't changed.

 

[GoldenSeal]

The ultimate entertainment for non-Oiler fans is giving Bowman cap to play with.

 

[GoldenSeal]

How much would have to be retained for him to have neutral value?

50% gets him close and he needs to be sheltered with the right linemate. VERY Low 2nd/3rd liner player at this point.

His AAV should be somewhere between 4-4.5m imho and I'll die on that hill.

 

[Deranged Oreo]

50% gets him close and he needs to be sheltered with the right linemate. VERY Low 2nd/3rd liner player at this point.

His AAV should be somewhere between 4-4.5m imho and I'll die on that hill.

I think if they can retain him down to 6 mill, he would be an alright bottom 4 option. Still on the higher end but more in line with his ability

 

[GoldenSeal]

I think if they can retain him down to 6 mill, he would be an alright bottom 4 option. Still on the higher end but more in line with his ability

So 6m for a few ~elite level abilities used by someone with very poor decision making?

If I'm a team looking for a Dman, his name wouldn't be Nurse, I'd trade for him for whatever else is offered with him and he would barely play minutes. He just doesnt fill a need or uses his abilities reliably enough for me to trust him on the ice alone.

6m should get a meat and potatoes solution and Nurse is all empty calories.

 

[Deranged Oreo]

So 6m for a few ~elite level abilities used by someone with very poor decision making?

If I'm a team looking for a Dman, his name wouldn't be Nurse, I'd trade for him for whatever else is offered with him and he would barely play minutes. He just doesnt fill a need or uses his abilities reliably enough for me to trust him on the ice alone.

6m should get a meat and potatoes solution and Nurse is all empty calories.

It’s more in line with a rising cap. 6 million is going to be the going rate for a bottom pairing guy before his contract is over.

Should a team trying to contend be all this? Absolutely not, but as a stop gap option it’s palatable

 

[ManofSteel55]

Based on what, exactly? Because the two trade situations are basically identical when you consider age, player/play style, contract, NTC and team situations (in terms of both teams wanting to move on).

It is as apples to apples as you can get for a trade comparison.

Phaneuf had some serious injury and mobility issues showing up, he was showing significant signs if regression. Nurse is incredibly mobile and durable. He had a down year, but there are no physical reasons for that, he has huge rebound potential. He's still physically in his prime.

 

[ManofSteel55]

If that’s the case then why are the Oilers trying to move him?

Because sometimes players need a change of scenery. The fan base has turned on him and is chasing him out of town, and we have seen how that can negatively affect players numerous times in the past.

 

[Deranged Oreo]

If that’s the case then why are the Oilers trying to move him?

Because his contract is still an albatross and still ranked as one of the worst in the league. He’s not a change of scenery type, he’s just an overpaid type.

-He has smaller hits but doesn’t punish the puck mover
-He’s not physical
-He scored the same amount of own goals at he did goals last season
-Has lower end IQ, can’t read the play fast enough and always resorts to laying on the ice

 

[GoldenSeal]

Because his contract is still an albatross and still ranked as one of the worst in the league. He’s not a change of scenery type, he’s just an overpaid type.

He doesnt fit the build of the team that wants McDavid and Drai at the helm. He has no place of that kind of team and sadly their ownership won't stay out of the discount section of the store... or the dumpster.

None of this is Nurses fault. I like him as a person but I don't feel he has a place in the NHL where I could just bring up a kid with better defensive thought processing than him without any of the elite edges that Nurse has.

It's his ethic that drives me mad.

In all of this, Nurse is his own worst enemy because he COULD learn, he COULD pay for his own coaching to get better himself but chooses to collect a check and mail it in, and that kind of player with his stats and mental processing doesnt belong on any team I could like.

 

[Deranged Oreo]

He doesnt fit the build of the team that wants McDavid and Drai at the helm. He has no place of that kind of team and sadly their ownership won't stay out of the discount section of the store... or the dumpster.

None of this is Nurses fault. I like him as a person but I don't feel he has a place in the NHL where I could just bring up a kid with better defensive thought processing than him without any of the elite edges that Nurse has.

It's his ethic that drives me mad.

In all of this, Nurse is his own worst enemy because he COULD learn, he COULD pay for his own coaching to get better himself but chooses to collect a check and mail it in, and that kind of player with his stats and mental processing doesnt belong on any team I could like.

Nurse was an effective player until Edmonton tried to mold the team into a run and gun style of play. The entires teams built around mcdavid and how he plays but built in all the wrong ways, the bottom 9 is almost lost as times with the style they’ve played

 

[GoldenSeal]

Nurse was an effective player until Edmonton tried to mold the team into a run and gun style of play. The entires teams built around mcdavid and how he plays but built in all the wrong ways, the bottom 9 is almost lost as times with the style they’ve played

That makes a great deal of sense.

 

[CF84]

He doesnt fit the build of the team that wants McDavid and Drai at the helm. He has no place of that kind of team and sadly their ownership won't stay out of the discount section of the store... or the dumpster.

None of this is Nurses fault. I like him as a person but I don't feel he has a place in the NHL where I could just bring up a kid with better defensive thought processing than him without any of the elite edges that Nurse has.

It's his ethic that drives me mad.

In all of this, Nurse is his own worst enemy because he COULD learn, he COULD pay for his own coaching to get better himself but chooses to collect a check and mail it in, and that kind of player with his stats and mental processing doesnt belong on any team I could like.

I really don't think he has as much control as you believe. I watch a lot of Oilers games because it's really fun to cheer against them, and Nurse is one of my favorites because he is very obviously lacking in hockey IQ. You can't really teach the kind of vision that a player like Nurse needs.

Some talented players just don't see the game well even if they are very obviously athletically talented.

 

[Deranged Oreo]

That makes a great deal of sense.

The more I think about it, the more I think he COULD MAYBE benefit from a more structured team that doesn’t force the play through certain players. A Vegas/Florida type environment where everyone is engaged

 

[LokiDog]

And reports from Dreger that Nurse is perceived as borderline untradeable without sweeteners.

Yeah, let’s compare Dreger to Friedman in 2026…

 

[Deranged Oreo]

Yeah, let’s compare Dreger to Friedman in 2026…

I wouldn’t trust either. Moral of the story is we need more information, currently all reports are conflicting. Reality it likely lands somewhere in the middle.

 

[gianni]

Is there actually a team he wants to be traded to, that has mutual interest in him (especially at his cap hit)?

 

[Guitpik]

The no one would pick him up if waived argument is another HF thing I hate lol

Most players making 10m a season won't be picked up mid season if waived.

Picking a guy up on waivers means you take the full contract. Who has 10M floating around in cap space in and an open roster spot mid season?

So I fully agree he would not be picked up. Lots of players wouldn't.

I do agree that he can't be your best dman though! He's a good support piece that is paid too much. If he made 5M all oiler fans would love him and he'd be in high demand.

I've said I'll give till xmas to shit on the new walman contract. I like him a lot to be honest. I think he was miscast at 2RD with nurse when he's a LD and then his injuries.

If he starts at 2LD and is healthy.. I think he will have a great season!

But I don't love the contract and think bowman overshot with it... Again. Like the player... Meh on contract. Hoping we get Murphy back and they are paired together.

Since you’re asking, Pittsburgh has $37M+ in cap space. Seems like an ideal fit.

 

[Guitpik]

He's a top 2 dman on a different team, not top 4. Players nearly always see a dramatic bump in play after leaving the Oilers, why should we not apply the same principle to Nurse?

Nurse is 10x the player J Schultz was and look how that turned out, hence why Dubas wants him. Dubie knows that Nurse will instantly be a #1 D for PIT. Their relationship also spans back over a decade, so Dubas likely knows the immense brain and dedication Nurse has for the game. Would not be surprised to see Dubas get in a bidding war with Briere and Kenny Holland, all three teams seem to covet a Nurse type player, albeit for different reasons.

Holland doesn’t have enough cap space to engage in a bidding war. LA is not a realistic destination. Unless it starts with the Oilers retaining $3M and taking the incredible Cody Ceci back. Then the Oilers would probably still have to add something. Otherwise, Anaheim has $38M in cap space, he would be GREAT there.

 

[FU Shoresy]

Will he waive his salary?

 

[Cyclones Rock]

I think that EDM is going to have to retain the maximum (50%) and throw in some other assets.

Nurse's contract is almost completely in bonuses so there is no effective way to buy him out.

McDavid is his good buddy and probably encouraged Holland to sign Nurse so he should throw in half the salary the possible new team might have to pay.

Bad GMs are like fans who overvalue their own players. They can't see the real value in a lot of the roster. The Nurse contract should be a case study on this.

 

[Czechboy]

Since you’re asking, Pittsburgh has $37M+ in cap space. Seems like an ideal fit.

Yes but taking him for free would be dumb.

Pittsburgh is a target destination. They can probably get him for cheaper or send a contract the other way.

 

[Oleksiak]

Edmonton is just not tenable for Nurse anymore. but he is still a one of a kind player in today's NHL

Because he has proven that he does not belong in the NHL.