Few trades on July 1 generated as much debate as the one involving Darnell Nurse. Edmonton managed to move one of the NHL’s largest defensive contracts without keeping a dollar on its books, while San Jose willingly accepted the full commitment.
At first glance, the trade looked like a clear financial win for the Oilers, but it also raised eyebrows around the league.
Jason Demers Defends Sharks’ Darnell Nurse Trade
Nurse is heading to the San Jose Sharks after waiving his full no-movement clause, allowing Edmonton to complete one of the most significant salary-clearing trades of the summer.
The Oilers sent Nurse, who carries a $9.25 million cap hit through the 2029-30 season, to San Jose with zero salary retention. In return, Edmonton received defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin and prospect Zack Sharp.
For Stan Bowman, completing the deal without retaining any salary creates immediate flexibility. Clearing the remaining $37 million commitment gives Edmonton room to continue building around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl while creating financial space for future priorities, including Evan Bouchard’s next contract.
It also provides Nurse with a fresh opportunity after months of trade speculation and growing attention surrounding his contract.
While many focused on why San Jose would absorb the entire deal, former NHL defenseman and 2022 Team USA Olympian Jason Demers believes the answer is straightforward.
Demers wrote on X, “The reason the Sharks are paying and grabbing these veteran guys. 1- Someone has to get paid. 2- They have a lot of young D that are still developing. This buys them time and still keeps the team competitive. 3- I did a tape on the number 9 pick that will be ready in a few years.”
With plenty of available cap space, San Jose needed larger contracts to reach the league’s salary floor. Taking on Nurse’s full cap hit allowed the team to accomplish that goal while adding an experienced defenseman capable of handling difficult matchups.
The move also protects the Sharks’ young defensive group. Instead of rushing prospects like Sam Dickinson, Ryan Lin, and 2026 No. 9 overall selection Keaton Verhoeff into major NHL roles, San Jose can let them continue developing while Nurse and Jacob Trouba shoulder the toughest assignments.
Edmonton quickly turned its newly available cap space into roster upgrades. Bowman strengthened the blueline by signing Ryan Shea, added veteran goaltender Frederik Andersen, acquired Devon Levi in a separate trade, and rounded out the roster by bringing back Kasperi Kapanen and Max Jones while signing Mathieu Joseph and Eduards Tralmaks.
From Edmonton’s perspective, the trade unlocked valuable financial freedom. For San Jose, it represents a calculated investment in both the present and the future, making the deal far more strategic than it first appeared.
