The Edmonton Oilers have traded defenceman Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks. The transaction, which occurred on Wednesday, involved the Oilers acquiring defenceman Shakir Mukhamadullin and the rights to Zachary Sharp from the Sharks.
Nurse, who is 31 years old, played 82 regular-season games for the Oilers last season, recording 24 points, consisting of seven goals and 17 assists. He did not register any points in six Stanley Cup Playoff games. Nurse has four seasons remaining on an eight-year, $74 million contract, which he signed with Edmonton on August 6, 2021. This contract carries a $9.25 million average annual value.
Nurse has spent all 12 of his seasons in the league with the Oilers, who selected him as the No. 7 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. Among Oilers defencemen, he ranks fifth in points with 324 (88 goals, 236 assists) and is second in games played with 798. He is also the team’s all-time leader in blocked shots with 1,467 and hits with 1,692. His playoff experience includes 29 points (seven goals, 22 assists) in 100 playoff games, which featured consecutive trips to the Cup Final in 2024 and 2025, where Edmonton lost to the Florida Panthers both times.
Mike Grier, the Sharks general manager, commented on the acquisition, stating that Nurse is a strong, veteran, and mobile defenceman capable of playing top-pair minutes against elite talent. Grier also highlighted Nurse’s physical style of play and his significant leadership qualities and experience gained during his tenure in Edmonton, which are expected to be valuable assets for the Sharks.
The trade follows earlier reports that Nurse had expanded his list of teams he would accept a trade to, with San Jose believed to be among them. The Sharks had been reportedly interested in a trade for Nurse for some time. This move comes as the Sharks were active on Wednesday, having also added Mason Marchment as a forward and Jacob Trouba as a defenceman through free agency. The Sharks reportedly have considerable cap space, with over $24 million remaining, making Nurse’s salary an easy fit.
Mukhamadullin, a 24-year-old defenceman, recorded 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 50 games this season, his third with the Sharks. He was a first-round pick (No. 20) by the New Jersey Devils in the 2020 NHL Draft and has accumulated 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 83 games, all played with San Jose.
Zachary Sharp, a 21-year-old defenceman, was a fourth-round pick (No. 124) by the Sharks in the 2025 NHL Draft. He has yet to sign a contract. Last season, Sharp registered 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) in 37 games for Western Michigan University.
To fill the void left by Nurse, the Oilers signed defenceman Ryan Shea to a five-year, $20 million contract with a $4 million AAV on Wednesday. Shea, who is 29 years old, had 35 points (six goals, 29 assists) in 80 regular-season games for the Pittsburgh Penguins last season. He also contributed one assist in six playoff games. Shea was a fourth-round pick (No. 121) by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2015 NHL Draft and has 41 points (nine goals, 32 assists) in 150 career games, all with the Penguins.
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Source: nhl.com
Ethan Brule is a Senior Hockey Writer at CasinoNews. He covered the NHL for a national Canadian outlet. He focuses on the NHL, the Maple Leafs and Team Canada and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Media from Toronto Metropolitan University. Now based in Toronto, he plays beer-league hockey and follows the junior ranks. “Hockey in Canada is never only about the score.”
