Oilers face tight salary cap: Darnell Nurse's contract under scrutiny

The Edmonton Oilers find themselves in a financial bind this season, teetering close to the limits of the NHL salary cap.

With pivotal contract negotiations looming, the team might need to address what has become an increasingly burdensome issue: Darnell Nurse's hefty contract.

In the wake of a standout performance during the truncated 2020-21 season, former General Manager Ken Holland committed to an eight-year deal with Nurse, worth an annual $9.25 million. Despite high hopes, Nurse's subsequent performances have not lived up to the lucrative contract, especially highlighted by a disappointing showing in the last playoffs where he recorded the worst plus/minus in playoff history.

According to Zach Laing of OilersNation, this season could be critical for Nurse. The Oilers might consider options to offload his contract if there isn't a significant upturn in his play.

The urgency is compounded by the need to re-sign key players like Leon Draisaitl this offseason, with future negotiations involving Connor McDavid, Evan Bouchard, and Stuart Skinner on the horizon as they edge closer to becoming unrestricted free agents. This situation puts even more pressure on the Oilers to reassess their roster and financial strategy meticulously.

Daily Faceoff lists Nurse as a top offseason trade target, indicating growing concern over his contract and performance, which could lead to significant roster changes if his play continues to underwhelm

While the NHL's salary cap is expected to rise, providing some relief, the Oilers must navigate these financial waters wisely. Optimizing cap space will be crucial as they aim to bolster their roster around superstars McDavid and Draisaitl, ensuring their window for competition remains open in the fiercely competitive league.

Source for all Nurse stats: PuckPedia

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