Ken Holland's Worst Oilers Trade No One Talks About
In the annals of Edmonton Oilers' history, Ken Holland's tenure has been marred by a series of questionable trades. However, one transaction that has slipped under the radar remains a colossal blunder: the trade of Darnell Nurse to the Buffalo Sabres in 2015.
At the time of the trade, Nurse was a promising 19-year-old defenseman who had just completed his rookie season in the NHL. He possessed an impressive combination of size, physicality, and offensive skills. Holland believed he could add more toughness to the Oilers' lineup by acquiring veteran defenseman Nikita Nikitin.
However, the trade had disastrous consequences. Nikitin was a poor fit for the Oilers, both on and off the ice. He was injury-prone and struggled to adapt to the team's style of play. Meanwhile, Nurse went on to become a cornerstone of the Buffalo Sabres, earning multiple All-Star selections and establishing himself as one of the best defensemen in the league.
"It was a terrible trade," said former NHL general manager Craig Button. "Nurse was a future star, and the Oilers gave him away for peanuts."
The Oilers have struggled to find a reliable defenseman since trading Nurse. They have signed numerous free agents and made several trades, but none have come close to matching his impact.
The Oilers have yet to recover from Holland's blunder. Nurse is now a key player for a contending team, while the Oilers continue to search for a replacement. The trade serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of undervaluing young talent.