Oilers’ Darnell Nurse is asked to waive trade protection and fuels rumours with media post

Earlier this week, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman revealed the Edmonton Oilers approached everyone on the team with trade protection to gauge their interest in a trade. He explained how Viktor Arvidsson was the only one willing to waive, and a transaction has since sent him to the Boston Bruins, while defenseman Darnell Nurse and veteran forward Adam Henrique declined to waive their trade protection.

Nurse, who has always enjoying using memes, then posted on his Instagram with the meme featuring the words, “Why you always lying?” The post surely feels like the blue liner didn’t mind the world knowing that he’d consider waiving that no-trade clause.

Nurse has been dealt back-to-back losses in the Stanley Cup Finals, and the rumours and his post on social media perhaps hint at the fact that he wouldn’t mind a fresh start.

While he is coming off 28 assists in 76 games in 2024-25, Nurse has gotten heat over the past campaigns that he should be doing more for the money he’s making in Edmonton. Nurse signed an eight year, $74,000,000 contract with the Oilers on Aug. 6, 2021.

If the Oilers are considering approaching Nurse again with a possible trade plan, maybe Nurse will be tempted to agree this time, especially if after the report, other teams pick up the phone and see if Nurse is truly available.