- Mike Grier compared Darnell Nurse’s Edmonton exit to Mitch Marner leaving Toronto
- The Sharks GM says a fresh start will help Nurse after years of scrutiny in Edmonton
- Read below for Grier’s full take on why San Jose fits
Mike Grier sees Darnell Nurse’s Edmonton chapter as a familiar story.
The Sharks general manager spoke about the trade during his media availability on Wednesday, and he pointed to the pressure Nurse carried in a hockey-mad Canadian market. Grier said it can pile up fast on a player.
“Sometimes it’s tough to get out of when the media starts getting on you, and then the fans start getting on you,” Grier said. “I think you saw a little bit of that with Mitch Marner getting out of Toronto.”
Grier believes the move west resets things for the veteran defenseman. He called San Jose “a breath of fresh air” for Nurse.
San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng broke down the Sharks’ loaded week on an emergency podcast:
That deal was one piece of a busy stretch that also brought in Jacob Trouba and Mason Marchment. You can read our full breakdown of the Nurse trade here.
Elliotte Friedman reported Nurse agreed to widen his list of approved teams before the sides closed the deal:
Edmonton drafted Nurse seventh overall in 2013, and he grew into a top-pairing role across parts of 11 seasons. His eight-year, $74 million extension turned him into a lightning rod as the Oilers chased a title that never came.
Nurse already spoke about asking out, telling reporters he needed a change. We covered his candid comments on the trade request earlier this week.
Grier isn’t worried about the baggage. He thinks a quieter market gets the best out of a defenseman Edmonton stopped believing in.
