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Where Could the Edmonton Oilers trade Darnell Nurse this offseason?

After a very disappointing first-round exit, it is very likely that the Edmonton Oilers will be shaking up their roster during the offseason. It is clear that the Oilers’ current roster is not built properly, and they have multiple roster needs to address because of it.

With this, it would not be particularly surprising if the Oilers end up trading some of their current players this summer. This is especially so when noting that they could use more cap space to help their chances of bringing in upgrades elsewhere.

Because of this, let’s take a look at the Oilers’ top three trade candidates in what should be a very busy offseason for the Oilers.

Oilers Should Be Looking to Move on From Darnell Nurse

When looking at the Oilers’ current roster, one player who stands out as a trade candidate is defenseman Darnell Nurse. The left-shot defenseman’s $9.25 million cap hit until the end of the 2029-30 season has undoubtedly created problems for the Oilers, so it would be significant if they could find a suitor for him during the summer.

Nurse is undoubtedly overpaid, but he is also a solid top-four defenseman when he is playing at his best. Because of this, he could generate some interest from teams needing blueline help that have a good amount of cap space. However, Nurse also has a full no-movement clause, so he would need to green-light any potential trade.

Mattias Janmark Could Be a Player Who the Oilers Flip

Another Oilers trade candidate to keep an eye on this summer is forward Mattias Janmark. With the Oilers having limited cap space and multiple needs to address, it would be understandable if they moved on from Janmark and his $1.45 million cap hit. This is especially so when noting that Janmark had just one goal and seven assists in 43 games this season with the Oilers.

Ultimately, Janmark is a depth forward at this stage of his career and is a bit expensive for what he provides. Due to this, it would not be surprising if the Oilers looked to flip him elsewhere during the offseason.

Tristan Jarry Could Use a Fresh Start After Struggling With Oilers

The Tristan Jarry experiment has not been working out in Edmonton. After having a strong start to the 2025-26 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jarry struggled immensely following his trade to the Oilers. In 19 games with the Oilers following the trade, he had a 9-6-2 record, an .858 save percentage, and a 3.86 goals-against average.

Given how poorly Jarry performed after being traded to Edmonton, the Oilers could have trouble finding a potential trade partner for him. This remains true even with Jarry’s solid overall resume in the NHL. However, that likely will not stop the Oilers from trying to move on from him, as it is clear that the fit between them has not been there.

Jarry has a $5.375 million cap hit until the end of the 2027-28 season. That could be another obstacle for the Oilers when it comes to looking to trade him.