Sharks make big moves, acquire Darnell Nurse in trade

By Liam Tremblay — 2 July 2026 — 3 min read

The San Jose Sharks have made significant roster changes, including acquiring defenceman Darnell Nurse from the Edmonton Oilers. These moves are part of an effort to transform the team into a perennial contender after a period of absence from the playoffs. General Manager Mike Grier has been active in reshaping the team, aiming to enhance both offensive and defensive capabilities.

Nurse’s acquisition was a key part of these efforts. The 31-year-old defenceman, who spent over a decade with the Oilers, was traded on Wednesday. He joins the Sharks with four years remaining on his contract. Nurse expressed his excitement about a new start in a familiar division, stating his goal is the same as his new teammates: to reach the pinnacle of the sport.

Sharks bolster blue line and forward group

In addition to Nurse, the Sharks also signed defenceman Jacob Trouba and forward Mason Marchment. Trouba signed a four-year, $33 million contract, while Marchment received $33.75 million over five years. These signings are intended to provide the team with size, toughness, and experience.

Trouba emphasized the importance of defensive play, noting that successful teams across the league are strong defensively. Nurse, known for his ability to defend and produce offence, brings a physical element and leadership qualities from his time in Edmonton, where he participated in back-to-back Cup Final runs in 2024 and 2025.

Marchment highlighted the excitement of adding veteran players to help lead the team’s young core. He noted that the ‘Shark Tank’ (the team’s arena) buzzes when the team performs well, anticipating a fun atmosphere.

The Sharks also took Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg. Earlier, Grier traded winger William Eklund to Ottawa for the No. 9 pick, and considered offers for the No. 2 pick.

Oilers’ roster adjustments

The trade of Nurse to the Sharks involved the Oilers receiving Russian defenceman Shakir Mukhamadullin and the rights to defenceman Zachary Sharp. Mukhamadullin, a 24-year-old, had 12 points in 50 games last season for the Sharks. Sharp, a 21-year-old, had 19 points in 37 games for Western Michigan University last season.

The Oilers’ general manager, Stan Bowman, described the process of moving Nurse as complex, noting the importance of not retaining salary in the deal. Nurse’s contract, an eight-year, $74 million deal signed in 2021, had been a point of discussion among Oilers fans and media.

Following Nurse’s departure, the Oilers made several other roster moves. They signed veteran goalie Frederik Andersen to a one-year contract and free-agent defenceman Ryan Shea to a five-year deal with an annual average value of $4 million. Shea, a defenceman, had 35 points in 80 regular-season games for the Pittsburgh Penguins last season.

Additionally, the Oilers acquired depth goalie Devon Levi in a trade with Buffalo, added veteran depth winger Mathieu Joseph on a one-year, $1 million deal, re-signed winger Kasperi Kapanen to a one-year deal with a cap hit of $2.6 million, and re-signed forward Max Jones at $850,000 per. At the end of the day, the Oilers had 22 players signed with just over $6.4 million in cap space remaining.

Nurse, who was drafted seventh overall by Edmonton in 2013, played 798 regular-season games and 100 post-season games for the Oilers. He recorded 24 points in 82 regular-season games last season.

The Sharks’ aggressive approach, including the acquisition of Nurse and the signings of Trouba and Marchment, signals a strong intent to compete for a playoff spot in the upcoming season.

Source: tsn.ca