- Connor McDavid says he is “extremely disappointed” to see Darnell Nurse traded to San Jose
- McDavid gave his first public comments on the deal at Zach Hyman’s golf classic Monday
- Read below for what McDavid said about the trade and new coach Mike Babcock
Connor McDavid finally spoke up about losing Darnell Nurse.
The Oilers captain met with reporters Monday at Zach Hyman’s annual golf classic in Ontario, where he was asked about Nurse getting shipped to the San Jose Sharks earlier this month. McDavid didn’t sugarcoat it.
“It’s obviously disappointing to lose someone like Darnell and the rest of the guys. But it’s part of the business, unfortunately. It’s been hard to really put into words what Nursey’s been to not only me, but the whole group and everybody in Edmonton. So extremely disappointed to see that happen.”
Here’s McDavid on the trade:
McDavid and Nurse go back more than a decade. Nurse made his NHL debut in 2014-15, a year before McDavid arrived as the first overall pick. The two watched the franchise climb from a bottom feeder into a two-time Stanley Cup finalist.
That run hit a wall this spring. Edmonton got bounced in the first round by the Anaheim Ducks after reaching the Cup Final in both 2024 and 2025.
Nurse asked out earlier in the offseason. His eight-year contract carries a $9.25 million cap hit through 2029-30 and came with a full no-move clause, so he got to pick his landing spot. San Jose, a young team on the rise, checked the boxes. The Oilers brought back defensemen Shakir Mukhamadullin and Zack Sharp in the swap.
There was optimism, too. McDavid talked up the team’s summer, and its endorsement of new coach Mike Babcock alongside additions like Mathieu Joseph and Frederik Andersen. Hyman defended the Babcock hire earlier the same day.
Asked about playing for his new bench boss, McDavid didn’t hold back the praise.
“We see a great opportunity to be coached by someone who has coached in every single big game there is to coach in. You name it, he’s done it. He’s the perfect fit.”
Watch McDavid on his new coach:
Nurse is gone, but McDavid sounds like a guy who believes his team got better this summer. Edmonton opens camp in September chasing the Final it keeps falling one step short of.
