Following the 2025-26 NHL season, the Edmonton Oilers made several changes to their leadership, including the firing of Kris Knoblauch and Mark Stuart, and the subsequent hiring of Mike Babcock and D.J. Smith.
So far on the first day of free agency, they’ve acquired goaltender Devon Levi from the Buffalo Sabres, but now, it appears as though another saga with the club is coming to a close.
According to multiple reports, the Oilers are trading defenseman Darnell Nurse to the divisional rival San Jose Sharks in return for Shakir Mukhamadullin; additionally, the Oilers are said not to be retaining any of his hefty salary cap hit.
The Edmonton Oilers Traded Darnell Nurse To The San Jose Sharks
NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman reported the news, writing the following on X:
“This is how things appear to be unfolding: Nurse to SJ Shakir Mukhamadullin will be part the return. There will be no retention by the Oilers We await the final picture.”
Earlier in the day, Nurse was reported to have expanded the list of teams that he would be willing to accept a trade to.
And now, the full trade has been announced. The Oilers traded Nurse to the Sharks, and in return, received defensemen Shakir Mukhamadullin and Zack Sharp.
According to Sharks general manager Mike Grier, the club is excited to have him on board.
“Darnell is a strong, veteran, mobile defenseman who eats up top-pair minutes against some of the best talents in the NHL, and brings a physical element every shift,” said Grier. “He brings significant leadership qualities and experience from his time in Edmonton which will be a valuable to our group. We’re excited to have a player like him join our organization.”
Mukhamadullin was taken by the New Jersey Devils with the 20th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, but would be traded to the Sharks in 2023 as part of the blockbuster Timo Meier trade.
He’s skated in 83 career NHL games and has scored seven goals with 15 assists.
Sharp was taken in the fourth round (124th overall pick) by the Sharks in the 2025 NHL Draft, and has played the last two seasons with the NCAA’s Western Michigan Broncos.
According to his scouting report, he loves to join the rushes as a blue liner.
“Sharp is an activator, never passing up an opportunity to join the play,” his scouting report via Elite Prospects read. “He flies up the weak to become a lead pass option, sprints the middle to take a forward’s role, and becomes the trailer. He blends his activation into gap control. When moving, he gets early stops, pushes attackers to the perimeter, and neutralizes off-puck threats.”
Darnell Nurse’s Time With The Oilers Is Over
Across his NHL career to date, Nurse has appeared in 798 regular-season games, producing 88 goals and 236 assists. In the playoffs, he has added another 29 points, recording seven goals and 22 assists over 100 postseason contests.
This past season, he suited up in all 82 games, finishing with seven goals and 17 assists. Despite his full-season effort, the Oilers’ campaign ended earlier than expected, as they were knocked out in the opening round of the playoffs by the Anaheim Ducks.
Breaking: Oilers Trading Darnell Nurse To Divisional Rival