On a recent episode of the “Jason Gregor Show,” Edmonton Oilers analyst Jason Gregor vehemently dismissed a fan’s idea of trading Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse for the San Jose Sharks’ Marc-Edouard Vlasic. This proposed trade would see the Oilers swapping Nurse for the veteran Vlasic, which Gregor quickly shot down as detrimental to the team.
The discussion centered around two key veteran defensemen, both of whose performances have admittedly been on a decline. Despite the potential cap savings of over two million dollars that the trade could bring to the Oilers, Gregor’s response was cutting.
“Have you watched Marc-Edouard Vlasic play hockey the last few seasons?” Gregor posed to the fan, emphasizing the drop in Vlasic’s game play. Vlasic, who inked an eight-year, $56 million contract with the Sharks in 2017, has struggled to live up to his previous standards, failing to score more than 17 points in a season post-deal and registering a disappointing minus-27 rating over 57 games last season.
In contrast, Darnell Nurse, who signed an eight-year $74 million deal with the Oilers in August 2021, has seen a mild decline in his stats but still posted a considerably better plus-3 rating with 32 points in 81 games last season.
“It’s awful. No chance,” Gregor stated about the trade, punctuating his thoughts with, “There’s no benefit whatsoever for the Edmonton Oilers to make that deal at all.”
The Oilers have high hopes for Nurse’s resurgence following a challenging postseason where he faced scrutiny over a minus-9 rating in 25 playoff games. Coach Kris Knoblauch of the Oilers highlighted Nurse’s significance to the team in a statement reported by The Athletic, emphasizing his pivotal role within the group. Moreover, teammates like Connor Brown commend Nurse for his inspiring work ethic and leadership, both on and off the ice.
Nurse has continually proved his mettle, notably playing through injuries such as a torn hip flexor in the 2022 postseason. His resilience and leadership qualities are vital as the Oilers aim to rebound and chase the championship that has eluded them.
