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Darnell Nurse Requests Trade; Oilers Keep Full Cap Hit

6/12/2026

Summary

Nurse Requests Trade

Darnell Nurse, 31, has requested a trade from the Edmonton Oilers.
He named San Jose, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Toronto as his preferred destinations.
His eight-year, $74 million contract carries a $9.25 million cap hit, a full no-movement clause through July 1 2027, and a ten-team list thereafter.
GM Stan Bowman said Edmonton will not retain salary, leaving the full $9.25 million hit on the Oilers.

Summary

Oilers Fire Coach

Oilers fired coach Kris Knoblauch after the playoff loss and are weighing hiring Mike Babcock pending an NHLPA investigation.
The club has about $14.5 million (potentially $14.59 million) in cap space this summer, which allows targeting a starting goalie, a top-six winger, a third-line centre and a right-shot defenseman for 2026-27.
Nurse’s front-loaded $74 million deal leaves $29.6 million due through 2030, freeing roughly $4 million per year with a 50 % salary retain.

History

Historical Context

After the owners’ September 16 2004 lockout forced the cancellation of the 2004–05 NHL season, a new collective bargaining agreement was reached in July 2005 and later ratified, instituting a league-wide salary cap tied to revenue. That cap reshaped rosters of teams like Detroit and New York, and now forces the Edmonton Oilers to maneuver around Darnell Nurse’s eight-year contract.

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Nurse Requests Trade

Darnell Nurse, 31, has requested a trade from the Edmonton Oilers.
He named San Jose, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Toronto as his preferred destinations.
His eight-year, $74 million contract carries a $9.25 million cap hit, a full no-movement clause through July 1 2027, and a ten-team list thereafter.
GM Stan Bowman said Edmonton will not retain salary, leaving the full $9.25 million hit on the Oilers.

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