The Edmonton Oilers have re-signed defenceman Darnell Nurse to a two-year contract extension worth $11.1 million. His contract will carry a salary-cap hit at $5.6 million.
A shade would be $5.6 mil aav. https://t.co/97bmOq6751
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 10, 2020
Darnell Nurse Re-Signs With Edmonton
Since being drafted seventh overall in the 2013 NHL Draft by the Oilers, Nurse has always been piece the team wanted to build around on defence. The pending restricted free-agent is coming off a two-year contract that carries a salary-cap hit of $3.2 million.
Nurse set the world on fire during the 2018-19 season for the Oilers. He set career highs in all statistical categories with 41 points (10 goals and 31 assists) Nurse is having another season for the Oilers on defence. So far this season through 55 games, he has 24 points (four goals and 20 assists) averaging 22:46 of ice time. In 334 career games, he has 112 points (28 goals and 84 assists). In addition, he added two assists in 13 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, all coming in 2017.
What The Future Brings
This is a good deal for both sides. This two-year deal will walk Nurse into unrestricted free agency sooner than the team wanted. But the Oilers get some salary-cap relief next season. The goal for Nurse and the Oilers is to get a long-term extension done during the summer of 2021. Going forward the Oilers leadership core includes Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Nurse. Nurse could have dragged this negotiation through the summer and asked for more money, but he realizes the Oilers are building something special in Edmonton. He is putting the team first to create more cap space in the short term to win now.
After playing 82 games last season, Nurse is on pace to do the same this season. While he is not playing on the top line with Adam Larsson anymore, Nurse has a more favourable matchup on the second pairing with Ethan Bear. As Nurse continues to develop he will see his minutes increase even more. With his style of play and the physicality he brings to the game, the Nurse will be one of the shutdown guys going forward for the Oilers.
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