Queen’s 1981 hit ‘Under Pressure’ may as well be the theme to the Edmonton Oilers’ offseason. After a first-round collapse against the Anaheim Ducks, the Oilers are back to square one when it comes to competing for the Stanley Cup.

Consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and 2025, along with the Winter Olympics earlier this year, appear to have taken a toll on Edmonton’s top two stars. Perhaps a full summer’s worth of rest may be a good thing after all. But general manager Stan Bowman will still have his work cut out for him.

One NHL insider believes Bowman may need to consider a dramatic move involving one of the team’s highest-paid players in order to shake things up.

Oilers Under Pressure to Trade $74M Defenseman

The player drawing speculation is veteran defenseman Darnell Nurse, who has four years remaining on his massive eight-year, $74 million contract and carries full no-movement protection next season, meaning any trade would require his approval.

His name surfaced in trade discussions before the March deadline, but no deal ultimately materialized.

The 31-year-old endured a difficult season statistically, finishing with 24 points, 104 penalty minutes, and a minus-12 rating in 82 games after spending much of the year near the bottom of the roster in plus-minus.

NHL analyst Matt Larkin argued that Edmonton simply cannot afford to keep the current roster intact if the organization is serious about maximizing McDavid’s remaining championship window.

“The Oilers simply must find a way. They barely have the cap space even to re-sign the UFAs and maintain status quo on a roster Connor McDavid called “average,” and the goal is to get better. If it means 50 percent retention on Nurse’s AAV, the Oilers have to consider anything that improves their Stanley Cup chances across McDavid’s two-year contract,” Larkin stressed.

He also questioned whether Nurse himself could eventually become open to a change of scenery after spending more than a decade dealing with the intense pressure in Edmonton.

The biggest issue remains the contract itself. Because of Nurse’s cap hit and trade protection, moving him would likely require Edmonton to either retain a portion of his salary or attach assets in the deal.

Still, several possible landing spots continue to circulate around the league. The San Jose Sharks have frequently been mentioned as a logical fit because of their massive cap space and need for experienced defensive help to support their young core.

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Meanwhile, rumors have also linked Nurse to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a potential hockey trade involving Morgan Rielly, who is also carrying a long-term contract with trade protection.

For Edmonton, the motivation behind a move would be simple: cap flexibility.

If Bowman can somehow move Nurse’s contract without absorbing a devastating long-term retention penalty, the Oilers would get some wiggle room to aggressively pursue major upgrades elsewhere on the roster, including goaltending help and additional top-six scoring depth around McDavid and Draisaitl.

With expectations only growing louder in Edmonton, this offseason could ultimately determine whether the Oilers remain true Stanley Cup contenders or continue wasting the prime years of the best player in hockey.