Darnell Nurse has requested a trade from the Edmonton Oilers, and the latest reporting suggests his camp is already narrowing the list to two playoff-bound destinations: the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Los Angeles Kings. With Nurse tied to an Oilers contract t
For the Edmonton Oilers, the week didn’t just bring trade-rumor noise—it brought a direct message from inside the roster itself. Darnell Nurse has requested a trade from the Oilers, and the next details are already sharpening where this could realistically land.
David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period reports that Nurse’s trade request is focused on two playoff teams. The reporting says Nurse’s camp has provided Edmonton with a list of three-to-five teams he would be willing to waive his no-movement clause for. Among those teams. Pagnotta writes that the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Los Angeles Kings are two destinations Nurse would sign off for.
The connections aren’t subtle. Nurse has history with both Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas and Kings general manager Ken Holland. When Nurse was in the OHL, Dubas was his GM. Holland, meanwhile, is the executive who signed Nurse to his eight-year contract extension in August 2021.
Edmonton’s locker room already had its own pressure points, and this adds another layer. There has also been interest shown in Mike Babcock, and with Nurse’s situation now in motion, it’s another piece of uncertainty hanging over the team.
Nurse has been a solid defenseman for the Oilers, but the season-by-season story hasn’t been spotless. Some coaches have criticized his play, pointing to a perceived lack of hockey sense. On the stat line, Nurse finished with seven goals and 24 total points through 82 games this season.
The Oilers control the next step, because Nurse is still under contract with Edmonton until after the end of the 2029-30 season. That makes his preference a meaningful factor—but it also makes Edmonton’s problem unavoidable: they still need to find a team willing to take on the contract.
If Nurse gets his way, the path drawn in the reporting runs straight to Pittsburgh or Los Angeles. And if the trade ultimately lands with the Kings, Nurse would be set to face the Oilers at least three times next season.
For Edmonton, the stakes aren’t only about where Nurse might play. It’s about whether the club can turn a clear request into a workable deal—before preference becomes leverage and the season turns into a waiting game.
MISRYOUM sports news NHL Edmonton Oilers Darnell Nurse trade request Pittsburgh Penguins Los Angeles Kings no-movement clause Kyle Dubas Ken Holland Mike Babcock