Darnell Nurse is pushing back on the idea that his exit from Edmonton came with any kind of bitterness.
Now with the San Jose Sharks after being traded from the Oilers, the veteran defenseman met with the San Jose media this week and was asked directly whether he viewed this move as a clean slate after a final stretch in Edmonton that didn’t look especially cheerful from the outside. The question came with a clear premise: maybe he had stopped enjoying the game in his last days with the Oilers.
Nurse didn’t buy that version of events.
“Nah, I've always loved the game of hockey. It doesn't matter where you're playing,” Nurse said.
“I love the grind of it. I love every day.
I was super fortunate for my time in Edmonton. I had a lot of amazing experiences and friendships that will last a lifetime.”
That said, he also made it plain that the separation made sense for everyone involved.
“But ya, it was time for a change. For me, it's a fresh start.
I'm looking forward to what I can bring to this group. I think I can bring a lot to the group and make this my new home and make it a big part of my life.”
The optics in Edmonton were never exactly warm. Nurse often came across as grumpy and distant with the local media, sometimes offering only a word or two after games and rarely looking eager to linger. That wasn’t every night, but it happened often enough that the tension in the room was hard to miss.
Part of that likely tied back to the Oilers’ season. Edmonton was not very good in 2024-25 and never really found a rhythm. It took them months to put together a three-game winning streak, and Nurse, like plenty of his teammates, had his own struggles along the way.
Another piece of the story was the pressure that seemed to land on him personally. He often appeared to feel as though the blame was being directed his way, and that only added to the sense that a reset was coming.
Whatever the reasons behind the mood, Nurse made one thing clear: he never fell out of love with hockey. For him, this move is about a new beginning, not an ending.
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