Darnell Nurse and Morgan Rielly entered the 2026 NHL offseason facing similar questions. Both veteran defensemen are coming off disappointing seasons, and both have become central figures in trade speculation.
Despite declining production and expensive contracts, NHL insider David Pagnotta believes neither player should be viewed as a cap dump. Speaking on Oilers Nation Everyday, Pagnotta pushed back against the idea that Edmonton Oilers or Toronto Maple Leafs must attach major sweeteners to move either defenseman.
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“There are teams that have interest in Nurse and view Nurse as a legitimate second-pair guy, but a legitimate one,” Pagnotta said. “And a change of scenery probably does him a little bit of justice to get away from a little bit of the noise of that big contract.
“So there is still value. This is not going to be. I saw it all over social, like it’s got to be Nurse and you got to put in a sweetener and you got to eat half his contract. None of that is going to happen. Maybe they retain a little bit to offset some money, but they’re not giving up additional assets just to take the guy.”
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Nurse posted just 24 points in 82 games and finished with a minus-12 rating. Meanwhile, Rielly recorded 36 points but ended the season at a career-worst minus-18. Those numbers fueled criticism, particularly given their cap hits ($9.25 million for Nurse and $7.5 million for Rielly).
Teams value what both defensemen bring
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly (44) at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
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Pagnotta argued that perception has outpaced reality when it comes to both players. While neither is viewed as a top-pair defenseman anymore, teams still see useful NHL contributors.
“There are teams that do value what he brings to the table,” Pagnotta said. “Same with Rielly, nobody’s viewing Rielly as a top-pair defenseman anymore, but he’s a second-pair type of guy. And at $7.5 million, a lot more palatable than $9.25 million, but there’s still value there.”
That distinction matters. For years, both players were asked to handle difficult matchups and heavy minutes. Nurse averaged nearly 21 minutes per game, while Rielly logged just over 21 minutes.
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Reduced ice time will make sense for Oilers’ Darnell Nurse
Pagnotta suggested a reduced workload could improve Nurse’s effectiveness significantly.
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“You’re giving him 17 minutes a night, probably going to be a lot more effective than 20, 22 a night,” he said.
That assessment makes sense. Contending teams often succeed when players are deployed in roles that match their current abilities rather than past reputations.
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For Edmonton, a Nurse trade remains possible as the team seeks cap flexibility. Toronto faces a similar decision with Rielly as a new management group led by John Chayka reshapes the roster.
So, the key takeaway is simple. Both defensemen may no longer justify their contracts, but that does not erase their NHL value. Teams looking for experienced second-pair options could still view Nurse and Rielly as useful pieces rather than expensive problems.
