October 10, 2026 by Eric Friesen

Whenever the Edmonton Oilers take on the San Jose Sharks, it’s must-watch television for hockey fans because of the star power involved. However, their upcoming meeting should have a little bit extra on the line.

While it’s unclear if two of the league’s greatest superstars in Connor McDavid and the recently injured Macklin Celebrini will go head-to-head on Saturday, the Oilers will certainly be opposed by a familiar No. 25 in the unfamiliar teal and black. After playing the first 798 games of his NHL career in an Oilers uniform, Darnell Nurse is set to face his former club for the first time on Saturday afternoon.

In one of the biggest moves of the off-season, the Oilers dealt Nurse to the Sharks for Shakir Mukhamadullin and prospect Zach Sharp on July 1. Though Nurse had become a target for criticism in recent years due to the eight-year, $74 million contract contract extension he signed in 2021, he consistently conducted himself with grace and determination throughout his tenure with the Oilers.

“One of the best things I ever learned from playing in a market like [Edmonton] is to be mentally tough, to just focus on what you can control and let the rest take care of itself,” Nurse told the media after practice on Friday. “Just [looking at the Oilers logo], right? You wear the logo for so long, you just look at it. It’s going to be weird.”

The Hamilton, Ontario native made the team out of camp in 2015-16, along with fellow top prospects McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The trio became the nucleus of Edmonton’s core players for more than a decade, and helped the Oilers make consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2024 and 2025.

Prior to joining the Oilers, Nurse and McDavid were teammates on Team Canada at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, winning gold. Their friendship grew stronger through years, with Nurse even being chosen as one of McDavid’s groomsmen at his wedding in the summer of 2024.

Related: Ending Nurse’s Oilers tenure was best for both sides

Coincidentally, McDavid will also pass Nurse for seventh on the Oilers all-time games played list in their matinee clash in Northern California. Though Nurse has defended against McDavid in hundreds of practices over the previous 11 years, he’s excited for challenge of trying to shut down the six-time Art Ross Trophy winner in an important divisional contest.

“I’m [going to catch up with them] tonight. Get one of them to buy me dinner, and then when the game starts tomorrow, all bets are off,” Nurse said. “I’ve got a lot of friends over there too. They’ll be lifelong friends. I think you know for me it’ll be different for sure, wearing a different jersey and being able to play against that team, but yeah, I’m really looking forward to just the challenge of playing against one of the top teams in our division.”

Nurse ranks second in goals (88), fifth in assists (236), fifth in points (324), tied for seventh in playoff goals (7), seventh in playoff assists (22) and seventh in playoff points (29) among defencemen in Oilers history. The 31-year-old defenceman has only suited up in four games a member of a Sharks so far, but this was surely a game he’s had circled on his calendar since July.

“It’s exciting,” Nurse said. Obviously, they’ve got a good team over there. “Started well. Some of the best players in the league. That’s a good challenge for us as a team. And as a player, you look forward to matchups like that.”

Zach Hyman, who played with Nurse for the past five seasons, isn’t expected to play on Saturday, as he continues to recover from an injury sustained in the Oilers’ final pre-season game on September 26. Though Hyman will have to wait until January before the clubs see each other again, he had high praise for their former alternate captain.

“Generally, an unbelievable friend and teammate, first and foremost,” Hyman told the media after practice on Friday. “A great leader. Always led by example, always stuck up for his teammates, always gave you 100 percent every night, no matter how he was feeling. He was always there, and ready to play for you and the team.”