After Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse requested a trade Thursday afternoon, the teams at the top of his list were the Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period broke the news on Thursday afternoon that Nurse has 3-5 teams he would be willing to sign off on for a trade, with LA and Pittsburgh the only two teams revealed so far.
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However, a report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman on Friday morning suggests more news about Nurse’s preferred destination. The 31-year-old is believed to prefer a move to the Eastern Conference, with another Canadian franchise unlikely to be among his preferred destinations.
REPORT: Darnell Nurse Includes The Kings On His List Of Preferred Trade Destinations
Despite the complicated issues with Nurse’s contract, there appears to be strong interest from several teams around the league in signing off on a trade. Friedman indicated that the Oilers should have “no problem” finding a legitimate hockey trade should they decide to move forward with a deal.
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While today’s report suggests that the Eastern Conference is the preferred landing spot for Nurse, Friedman added that if a Western Conference team enters the mix, the Los Angeles Kings could emerge as a potential destination.
Nurse has spent his entire career with the Edmonton Oilers since being selected seventh overall in the 2013 NHL Draft. The former 2019 IIHF World Champion still has a lot left in him; with the physicality and grit he brings, he is very valuable to the Oilers, and a team like the Kings would be the perfect fit for how the team likes to operate.
With legitimate interest reportedly building and trade discussions expected to intensify, all eyes will be on Edmonton’s front office to determine whether Nurse’s long tenure in Oil Country is nearing its end.
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