Edmonton Oilers sign Darnell Nurse to eight-year contract extension

The Edmonton Oilers have signed defenceman Darnell Nurse to an eight-year contract extension, the club announced Friday.

The deal, which kicks off in the 2022-23 campaign, will pay him an AAV of $9.25-million.

Nurse, 26, was drafted by the Oilers 7th overall in the 2013 draft and had one of his best seasons last year. He scored 16 goals and 36 points in 56 points last season, hands down the most productive offensive season in his seven-year career.

The massive extension comes after the Oilers twice bridged Nurse out of his entry-level deal with two-year deals and now, he’s got his big payday.

According to hockeyviz.com, at even-strength Nurse provided offence at a nine percent rate above league average and defence at a 10 percent rate below league average. At 5×5 this year with the Oilers on the ice, the Oilers controlled 51.08 percent of the shot attempts, 55.91 percent of the goals and 51.45 percent of the expected goals.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.