Seravalli: Nurse trade not imminent unless talk changes ‘dramatically’

One insider believes that unless things change dramatically and quickly, Darnell Nurse won’t be traded by the first round of the NHL Draft on Friday night.

Frank Seravalli was asked about the Edmonton Oilers and the ongoing trade request from Nurse on Thursday’s edition of Frankly Hockey, as more indicators from around the hockey world suggest a trade is not imminent.

“A lot of people have been curious in Edmonton about what happens next,” said Seravalli. “He gave the Oilers three teams to work with. The best that I can understand the Nurse situation right now is nothing on the front burner, and I think Nurse is a tertiary option for those teams.

“Not that they aren’t interested, but they are trying to make other things happen first, and if they can’t, then they’re going to come back to Darnell Nurse and that file later on. What I would suggest is, unless something changes drastically today, I don’t see Nurse being traded before Friday night.” 

With Nurse’s no-move clause, the Oilers are limited to what they can do. He holds the cards.

Earlier this week, a trade seemed more likely. But as the draft has drawn nearer, and several high-profile trades have happened across the league, the Nurse situation seems quiet.

Reports have continued to say there is “legitimate interest” in the 31-year-old, who’s played 798 NHL games. How much of the $9.25 million salary are the Oilers willing to retain, if any?

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have come up in multiple trade speculation reports, given Nurse’s family ties to Philly and his prior OHL relationship with Pens GM Kyle Dubas.

However, new associate coach D.J. Smith spoke glowingly about the veteran blueliner since being hired, after their experience together at the recent World Championships. He told Oilersnation’s Jason Gregor on his show on Sports 1440 that he’d love to coach Nurse.

“I hope that I can coach Nursey because he’s a big man with reach and length,” Smith told Gregor. “Our penalty kill over there was 93 per cent, and net 100 per cent. He was the number one guy out the door.

“It was a different system where we pressure, pressure, pressure. He hasn’t had the opportunity to do that in Edmonton, as it’s been more of a sit at the net and make reads kind of style. I think with his length and his athleticism, he can be an elite penalty killer in the National Hockey League. Now, that’s not my business (trade request), that’s his and his family’s and Stan’s, but I would certainly welcome him back.”