Darnell Nurse didn’t come to San Jose to relive old frustrations. He came to clear the air.
The new Sharks defenseman met with local media this week and addressed the end of his run in Edmonton, pushing back on reports that he had grown unhappy or lost his passion for hockey with the Oilers. Instead, Nurse framed the move as something simpler: a change that had become necessary for both sides.
“Nah, I’ve always loved the game of hockey. It doesn’t matter where you’re playing,” he 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.”
Nurse’s departure had been building for a while. The Oilers and Nurse had spent a few seasons circling the idea of a trade, and the situation sharpened this summer when reports surfaced that Edmonton was going to ask him, for a second time, to consider waiving his no-trade clause. Nurse moved first, requesting a trade before the Oilers could bring him in to say they wanted to move him.
He initially listed Boston, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh as preferred destinations, and the Sharks entered the picture only after those three teams couldn’t put together something Edmonton could work with. The move gives San Jose a veteran defender with a big contract - $9.25 million against the cap - and a player who now gets a fresh start with one of the NHL’s up-and-coming teams.
Asked directly whether this is a new opportunity after what may have been a difficult final stretch in Edmonton, Nurse didn’t buy into the idea that he had checked out.
“But ya, it was time for a change,” he said. “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.”
That’s the version Nurse wanted on the record. He said the Oilers chapter simply ran its course, and now he’s focused on what comes next with San Jose as it continues building around a young core.
There will be a familiar date on the calendar, too: Nurse returns to Edmonton for the first time on January 13th. When that night comes, Oilers fans will get a chance to salute a player who gave them several good seasons, even if the ending didn’t unfold the way anyone expected.
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Filip Bystedt Is Forcing A Tough Sharks Decision
Filip Bystedt has spent the past few seasons giving the Sharks reason to keep watching closely, and his latest step forward only adds to the interest. The 22-year-old center has shown steady year-over-year improvement in the AHL, nearly doubling his point total this season while continuing to look like a promising depth option with a chance to help San Jose sooner rather than later.
The problem for the Sharks is that Bystedts development is arriving at a tricky moment. He has dealt with some injuries along the way, and his contract situation is beginning to matter just as much as his upside, leaving the organization to weigh whether he is best served anchoring the Barracuda or becoming part of a bigger move if San Jose decides to chase help on the blue line. [Read more 🡒]