Elliotte Friedman says there's serious interest in Darnell Nurse from both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, sharpening the Oilers' trade market.
The report is direct. On Oilers Now, Friedman named both the Penguins and Flyers as seriously in on the defenseman.
Start with the player. Nurse is 31 on a $9.25M cap hit, coming off 24 points and a minus-12, and Edmonton wants that contract off the books.
The list lines up, too. Both clubs are in the East, and Bob Stauffer reported Nurse's trade list is three Eastern teams, so these fits don't even require him to expand it.
Edmonton's motive is the same as ever. Shedding Nurse's money is how Stan Bowman frees room for a goalie, the priority he's been chasing all summer.
Friedman put real names to the interest.
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Why both suitors fit the list Nurse handed in
The Pittsburgh picture has a wrinkle. The Penguins sit 10th under Kyle Dubas but already carry heavy money on defense, led by Erik Karlsson at $11.5M. Fitting Nurse likely means Edmonton retaining or a contract coming back.
Philadelphia is a different shape. The Flyers, run by Daniel Briere, are younger on the blue line with Travis Sanheim and Cam York. A fit there probably looks like a swap, maybe moving Rasmus Ristolainen and his $5.1M the other way.
Either path runs through retention. Stauffer noted Edmonton may have to eat salary given the cap, so serious interest is great, but the structure still has to work for both sides.
The momentum is the real takeaway.
Two named suitors from a credible insider is a long way from vague "lots of interest" chatter. The Nurse market just got concrete.
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Here's my read: this is the clearest sign yet a Nurse deal is trending toward done.
Both teams fit his list, Edmonton wants the relief, and Friedman doesn't drop suitor names casually. Price and retention are the last hurdles.
So the field is narrowing to real options.
With the draft Friday, whether Bowman closes with Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, or holds out for more is the call to watch. Serious interest, not yet a signature.
Which team is the better landing spot for Nurse?
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