With Toronto Maple Leafs' general manager John Chayka reportedly exploring the trade market for Morgan Rielly, speculation is starting to build about what a potential return could look like. One hypothetical scenario making the rounds is a blockbuster swap with the Edmonton Oilers involving Darnell Nurse.
The rumour mill gained traction following a report from Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, who revealed that the Oilers and Nurse are officially headed for a breakup. According to Spector, Edmonton management is ready and willing to move on from the 31-year-old defenseman as soon as possible, with general manager Stan Bowman set to meet with Nurse to discuss his future and whether he would waive his no-movement clause.
While moving on from Rielly’s contract is a priority for the front office, capitalizing on Edmonton’s situation to acquire Nurse would be a major mistake for the Maple Leafs.
Swapping Nurse for Rielly doesn't make sense
Financially, the move doesn’t make sense for Toronto. Rielly carries a $7.5 million cap hit through the 2029-30 season. Nurse, on the other hand, is under contract for the same term but comes in at a $9.25 million cap hit. Taking on an extra $1.75 million for a player whose current team is looking to move on from him would severely limit Chayka’s flexibility in building out the rest of the roster.
The on-ice performance only adds to the concern. Nurse is coming off a disappointing season in Edmonton, registering seven goals and 24 points while finishing minus-12 and seeing his ice time drop. His defensive consistency has wavered, and his underlying numbers point to a player who needs heavy sheltering at five-on-five to stay effective.
If Toronto is going to move on from the longest-tenured member of its roster, the focus should be on shedding salary or bringing back younger, more dynamic assets that fit the next core. Not swapping a defensemen who is one year younger, more expensive, and a less effective version of a left-shot defenseman in Nurse. Who would most definitely set the franchise in the wrong direction. No matter how the deal is structured, Chayka should be steering clear of this option.
