Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman will trade veteran defenceman Darnell Nurse in the coming days. Bowman’s roster is deep in the areas Nurse fulfills on the team, meaning opportunity will be knocking for several players. Bowman is likely to deal Nurse for help in areas of need, so the left side of the defence is unlikely to receive a feature player. It’s possible Nurse is dealt for a forward, or a defenceman who can play the right side.

Which Oilers defenders stand to take on more of the load after a Nurse trade? Here’s a look.

Jake Walman

The Oilers traded for Jake Walman in March 2025, surrendering a 2026 first-round selection. A seven-year contract ($7 million AAV) followed in October 2025, which takes Walman to 37 and summer 2033 free agency. Edmonton’s depth chart has Mattias Ekholm at the top among left-handed defencemen, and Walman should slide in on the second pair with Nurse’s exit.

Based on Bowman’s acquisition and signing of Walman, a Nurse trade virtually guarantees he will move up to the second pair of Nurse exits. The cap hit alone suggests Walman should be on the second pairing.  However, there are concerns.

Last season, versus elite competition, via PuckIQ, Ekholm led lefties (6:26 per game, 55 percent Dangerous Fenwick), followed by Nurse (5:56 per game, 48 percent Dangerous Fenwick) and Walman (5:16, 40 percent Dangerous Fenwick). Walman had injury issues during the season and had multiple defensive mates (including Nurse and Ty Emberson), but will need to improve his performance against elite competition in order to keep the feature role.

One way Edmonton’s new coach could increase the chances of success is by pairing Walman with Evan Bouchard. Both count puck-moving among their strengths, and together (over two seasons) own a 56 percent five-on-five goal share in 181 minutes.

Connor Murphy

Connor Murphy is a key re-signing target for Bowman this offseason. The veteran’s calm feet elevated the second pairing down the stretch after he came over from the Chicago Blackhawks. The Oilers will be aggressive in getting his name on a contract, possibly before he hits free agency on July 1. In trading Nurse, Bowman will increase the importance of bringing back Murphy to play on the second pairing. It could impact the length and cost of the contract.

There is danger here for Edmonton. Murphy, 33, wasn’t playing top-four minutes versus elites when with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2025-26. Here’s a look at Murphy’s totals versus elites in Chicago and Edmonton last season:

TeamMins vs elitesPct of overallDFF Pct

Chicago

218

27

36

Edmonton

86

35

35

All numbers five-on-five, via Puck IQ 

The numbers are consistent and don’t indicate Murphy should be considered an anchor for the second pairing. Chicago moved on last season from Murphy as a feature player. Puck IQ lists Louis Crevier (43 percent of his five-on-five time versus elites) and Artyom Levshunov (28 percent of his time spent against elites), both playing more than Murphy against the league’s best.

Murphy has been a capable NHL defenceman, and the Oilers ran 50 percent goal share (12-12) when he was on the ice at five-on-five after the trade. However, Murphy was 0-6 goals at five-on-five versus elites in Edmonton. This is a player who will be relied upon to be a feature player on the second pairing if he signs. The numbers versus elites in 2025-26 are worrisome.

Spencer Stastney

Stastney is a fine defender who doesn’t bring much top-end offensive skill to the game. He’s ideally suited to the third pairing and penalty killing, but may be asked to step into the breach if Walman falters or is injured. Last season, in just 116 minutes against elites, Stastney was 2-9 goals at five-on-five. When playing away from the league’s best, he posted (12-13 goals) a 48 percent goal share. If Stastney is playing second pair at any time in 2026-27, the Oilers new coach has either unlocked the player and found a new gear, or the team is in trouble.

Damien Carfagna

The hidden gem in this conversation might be Damien Carfagna. In his first pro season, spent with the AHL Bakersfield Condors, Carfagna displayed exceptional speed, mobility and passing skills. Those things are badly needed on the left side of Edmonton’s depth chart, so Carfagna has a good chance to play in the NHL during 2026-27.

Recommending him as an NHL option in year two of his pro career isn’t an easy sell. However, his on-ice goal share at even strength in the minors (53-40, 57 percent) was easily the best among Bakersfield’s defencemen. Carfagna is undersized and unlikely to rise to a feature role in the NHL over the next two seasons, but he could emerge as a useful third-pairing option in 2026-27. If injuries hit, Carfagna should be the first recall option for the Oilers.

Atro Leppanen

Leppanen had a chaotic start to the AHL season with the Condors. At even strength, his pairing was flattened 5-17 (23 percent) before straightening out and running 56 percent (34-27 goals) for the remainder of the season. Leppanen’s strength is on the offensive side of the puck, but he can play sound defensively in the Finnish style (angling oncoming rushers away from the net). He’s unlikely to be an NHL regular in 2026-27, but there’s a unique talent, and Edmonton’s new coach might like what he brings.

Bottom line

A healthy Walman should be able to take on most of the load left by Nurse. The Oilers might want to run Walman with Bouchard in an effort to spread the wealth, meaning Ekholm could be paired with Murphy.

Management may trade Nurse for a left-handed defender, but there’s not a pressing need in this area. Ekholm, Walman and Stastney should be strong enough to keep opponents at bay, and Carfagna plus Leppanen offer the kind of depth and range of skills the coaching staff can use when injuries hit.

The big worry is Walman versus elites. Puck IQ’s tracking in this area shows an inconsistent player whose results have ranged wildly depending on the quality of pairing and his health. Bowman made the bet on Walman and will want to put him in a position to succeed. That may mean Walman-Bouchard as a pairing next season in Edmonton.