For years, the contract of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse has been a relentless talking point among NHL fans, often derided as one of the league’s most egregious overpayments. This widespread perception has left Oilers faithful with little recourse but to accept the constant criticism, making his substantial cap hit a recurring punchline across the hockey world.

The criticism stems from Nurse’s eye-popping $9.25 million cap hit, a deal that still has five seasons remaining, compounding the frustration for many within the Oilers’ passionate fanbase. Some pundits and fans have even gone as far as to label it the single worst contract in the National Hockey League, fueling a narrative of financial mismanagement.

However, a recently published analytics model from a reputable source offers a contrarian perspective, suggesting that the prevailing negative sentiment might be overstated. This new analysis indicates that Nurse’s contract, while certainly significant, does not necessarily rank among the NHL’s absolute worst, challenging years of entrenched opinion.

The analytics, as presented in the annual ranking of the NHL’s top 10 worst contracts, notably excluded Darnell Nurse from its 2025 edition. This omission is particularly significant given his past appearances on similar lists, though he has never been cited as the single worst. His performance in the 2024-25 season, despite a less-than-stellar playoff run, was arguably his best as an NHLer since the COVID-shortened 2019-20 campaign, marked by solid defensive play and a more disciplined approach.

Instead of Nurse, the 2025 list featured players like Jonathan Huberdeau, Ivan Provorov, and Chandler Stephenson, among others. Crucially, none of the five defensemen on this updated list carry a higher cap hit than Nurse, with Provorov’s $8.5 million deal being the closest. This comparison further underscores that, relative to other highly paid defensemen, Nurse’s contract is no longer an outlier in the negative sense it once was.

This re-evaluation suggests that while Nurse’s contract is by no means considered “good,” it no longer represents the financial “boat anchor” many previously believed. Furthermore, the anticipated rapid increase in the NHL salary cap in the coming years is expected to further mitigate the perceived burden of his deal, making it less impactful over time.

It is important to acknowledge that Nurse’s absence from the main list was not by a wide margin; the author of the report included him in an honorable mentions list alongside other prominent players such as Will Borgen and Brad Marchand. This proximity indicates that while his value has improved, the debate around his contract remains finely balanced.

Ultimately, being excluded from such a reputable compilation of the league’s worst contracts should provide a significant morale boost for Darnell Nurse, who is undoubtedly aware of the public scrutiny surrounding his deal. Another strong season, coupled with continued improvements in his play and further salary cap growth, could finally quiet the persistent noise around his financial commitments and solidify his improved standing among NHL player contracts.