Top NHL insider suggests Oilers asked core player to waive no-move clause
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NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has suggested that the Edmonton Oilers have asked Darnell Nurse to waive his no-move clause for a trade this offseason.
After two more seasons, Nurse's no-move clause will loosen to become a 10 team no-trade list. If the Oilers don't want to be paying Nurse $9.25M until he's 35 years old, they'll be moving him as soon as the trade clause loosens.
Elliotte Friedman suggests Oilers asked Nurse and Henrique to waive no-move clauses
On today's final edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast for the season, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Oilers asked several players to waive their trade protections, and suggested that Nurse and Henrique declined.
I think basically Edmonton went to a check with all their guys who had no trade clauses, who they would want to move and say, okay, how many of you are willing to go places?
And Arvidson said he was, so he went. But, you know, Nurse, I don't think he wants to go anywhere. Henrique, I'm not convinced he wants to go anywhere.
- Elliotte Friedman
And Arvidson said he was, so he went. But, you know, Nurse, I don't think he wants to go anywhere. Henrique, I'm not convinced he wants to go anywhere.
- Elliotte Friedman
It's major news that they've at least asked Darnell Nurse, a core player with the most problematic contract on the team.
Nurse has never lived up to the salary of a $9.25M defenceman, affecting the Oilers on the ice, and his contract has limited the options of the front office to make moves.
Last year, Nurse had somewhat of a comeback with improved play through the year, and even early in the playoffs. That was erased by his Cup Final performance, where once again he was unable to make a good decision under pressure.
Stan Bowman did his due diligence to at least approach Nurse with the possibility of a move. The Oilers defenceman has the right to block any sort of move for the next 2 full seasons.
It'll take some creative work from the front office to build a complete team with their cap constraints now, and perhaps some courage from the coaching staff to park Nurse on the bench more if he's not playing well in the big moments.
