Sharks July 1 Transaction Grades: Darnell Nurse

Arguably, the most controversial move by the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday was the trade for Darnell Nurse.

GM Mike Grier took on the full $9.25 million cap hit of the Edmonton Oilers d-man and sent Shakir Mukhamadullin and Zack Sharp.

Many Sharks fans are reacting negatively to the move, and, based on Nurse’s recent performances, that is understandable. Is Nurse worth the $9.25 million per year cap hit? No. But he’s not a bad player. The San Jose Sharks are getting a legit top-4 defenseman in the NHL with Stanley Cup Playoff experience.

The weight of the Edmonton market got to Nurse. While meeting with San Jose Sharks reporters, Nurse was candid about needing a change of scenery.

“Sometimes it is just time to go. You feel that personally, and you have to stick to your gut,” Nurse said. “It was just time for a change. I had some deep roots, had some great moments, a lot of great memories, some friends, some good experiences with the organization, but everything has a shelf life and expiry date on it. This was my expiry date for my time in Edmonton.”

Despite providing many good seasons in Edmonton, Nurse became the whipping boy for the Edmonton fan base. While his mistakes were there, a change of scenery is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Trading Mukhamadullin away stings, but the former 2020 first-round pick could never get it going with the Sharks. He dealt with injuries every season, and although he showed promise, the San Jose Sharks are trying to push for the playoffs.

For this to work for the Sharks, Nurse needs to rebound in a big way. He doesn’t need to become the No. 1 d-man, but he might get minutes like it. He needs to limit his mistakes and utilize his skating and puck-moving abilities to get the puck to Macklin Celebrini and co.

Nurse will have a burning desire to prove his doubters wrong, and a place like the San Jose Sharks is a perfect place to do that. He stays in the Pacific Division and will face his old team, and he wants to deliver for his new one. The risk is overplaying and taking risks; that’s the opposite of what the Sharks will need.

“I think one of my best attributes is transporting the puck and skating, using my legs. Defensively, same thing, using my legs and closing time and space. I’ve got a pretty big engine, too, when it comes to being able to play minutes. There’s a lot of excitement,” Nurse said. “I feel like I can add to the group, as well as the leadership part. My goal is the same goal as all those guys in the room, because I haven’t, [and] a lot of those guys haven’t reached the pinnacle. We’re all fighting for that.”

My Grade: B-

Grade overview:

I wanted to give this move a B, but I couldn’t. At 31 years old, Nurse shouldn’t be declining yet. Is there a chance he already has? Yes, but in my eyes, this risk was necessary. I give this a B- instead of a B, because the Oilers did not retain any salary.

Rumors of the San Jose Sharks being interested in Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly were also floating around. This move is better for the Sharks. Nurse’s skating and playoff experience are better than what Rielly, whose play appears to be dwindling, would’ve brought.

As I’ve stated in the two previous July 1st transaction grades, the Sharks took on a lot of money today, but much of it comes off the books after this season. By the time the next crop of defensemen needs to be paid, excluding Sam Dickinson, both Nurse’s and Trouba’s contracts will be complete. Dickinson’s extension will kick in one year before Keaton Verhoeff or Ryan Lin, if they join the NHL at the same time in 27-28.

This is a high-risk move, but both sides are motivated to prove that it will work. Mike Grier has not been shy about giving players second chances, and some have worked, while others have not. Nurse’s on-ice ability brings something Mario Ferraro, John Klingberg, Vincent Desharnais, and Dmitry Orlov couldn’t; The ability to skate the puck into a breakout pass.

Most times during the season, the Sharks’ defense would flip a puck out of danger, then get hemmed back in. There were moments of clean breakouts, but the skating ability of the blue line was too weak to push the forecheckers back.

I know I am likely in the minority with my belief in Nurse, but give the guy a chance. He’s got the tools to help the Sharks in a big way.