{"id":476139,"date":"2026-02-28T00:57:37","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T00:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/476139\/"},"modified":"2026-02-28T00:57:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T00:57:37","slug":"analyst-believes-darnell-nurses-game-may-not-be-salvageable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/476139\/","title":{"rendered":"Analyst Believes Darnell Nurse\u2019s Game May Not Be Salvageable"},"content":{"rendered":"

Darnell Nurse has always been a polarizing player for the Edmonton Oilers. His up-and-down play, which already drew scrutiny, has, of course, come under even more fire ever since signing his massive $9.25 million contract\u2014and it\u2019s now nearly impossible to evaluate his game without considering what he\u2019s paid<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While there have been spurts of solid play in recent years\u2014where Nurse provides a physical style and chips in offensively from time to time\u2014it\u2019s been lacking in 2025\u201326 more than ever, and one analyst believes his game may be beyond repair.<\/p>\n

Jason Gregor shared his thoughts on Nurse\u2019s struggles on a recent episode of The Jason Gregor Show.<\/p>\n

Gregor said<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cGet in someone\u2019s face, do something, because right now you\u2019re not doing a lot, so at least try to do something. But I\u2019m not sure it\u2019s salvageable, to be honest. At this stage, it\u2019s not like, \u2018ok, I had a stretch, hey look at Mattias Ekholm came off an injury, had a tough six weeks, look at him now, fine.\u2019 Lots of other guys have funks; they dig their way out of it. There\u2019s nothing, I\u2019m sorry. Not remotely good enough, not remotely good enough,\u201d<\/p>\n

The 31-year-old Nurse has tallied 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) through 60 games this season while sporting a -11 rating in the process. He\u2019s in year four of the aforementioned eight-year, $74 million extension signed with the Oilers in 2021, which includes a full no-movement clause through 2026\u201327.<\/p>\n

\"DarnellDarnell Nurse Oilers<\/p>\n

While Nurse did have a solid performance on Thursday in Los Angeles, there\u2019s no doubt Gregor is right in saying it hasn\u2019t been good enough. If the 6\u20194, 215-pound blue liner were playing up to his capabilities and contract, Edmonton likely wouldn\u2019t be struggling so much defensively and, in turn, searching for a top-four addition<\/a> ahead of the deadline.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a difficult situation for everyone involved, and at this point, all the Oilers and their fans can hope for is that the Olympic break helps Nurse turn a corner. If they want to reach a third straight Stanley Cup Final\u2014and finish the job this time\u2014they\u2019ll simply need better from their $9.25 million man.<\/p>\n

Next: Oilers Management Shredded for Offseason Moves and Tristan Jarry Trade<\/a><\/p>\n

\tDiscover more from NHL Trade Talk<\/p>\n

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