Edmonton Oilers finally deliver major demotion to star player

Nurse seriously struggled through last year's playoff run, nearing a record for one of the worst plus minuses in the NHL. After a bounce back season, he's slipped in the playoffs again.

The Oilers chose not to reveal their full lineup at practice today, but to start the game, the full lineup was revealed. Notably, Darnell Nurse was paired with Troy Stecher entering the lineup in the unofficial third pair.

The pairing is officially written as their second, but with Stecher returning from injury and Jake Walman on the third pair, it's safe to assume they'll have the least amount of ice time.

It's a long overdue change to find an entirely new plan surrounding Darnell Nurse. He's struggled heavily his playoff minutes alongside Evan Bouchard and Brett Kulak, losing his minutes at even strength at all times.

The poor analytics match the eye test too, where Nurse oftentimes blows his coverage in the defensive zone for questionable plays.

Perhaps in a more sheltered role alongside a reliable depth player like Stecher, Nurse will have a more positive impact on the Oilers. The only real question will be how little are the Oilers comfortable playing their $9.25M defender.

We'll see how the new pairings fare in a critical Game 4 matchup on home ice, where the Oilers can take a commanding series lead over the rival Vegas Golden Knights.