The change of scenery hasn’t benefited Darnell Nurse.
Nurse has been criticized over the past few seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, and his downward trajectory appears to have followed him to the San Jose Sharks. The 31-year-old defenceman has been treated like a top-pairing defenceman with the Sharks, but the underlying analytics haven’t been kind to his start to the season.
According to Natural Stat Trick, Nurse has been among the team’s worst defenders through the first eight games of the season. He is dead last among Sharks defencemen in five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage (SCF%) at 38.21 and is near the bottom of the roster with a dismal five-on-five 36.71 expected goals-for percentage (xGF%) as well.
His on-ice production has also dropped significantly, with just one goal and no assists through eight games. That is especially concerning, given he put up just 24 points in 82 games last season, his lowest total in almost a decade.
Nurse’s only goal this season was an OT winner over the St. Louis Blues, but it’s been radio silence since.
Doc closing it out in OT. 👀#TurnItAllTeal pic.twitter.com/oPmGeJtgu3
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) October 9, 2026
A deeper dive into the analytics will confirm that Nurse has been a defensive liability for San Jose. He was often criticized for leaking chances against in his own zone and missing assignments, habits that seem to have continued with his new club.
According to HockeyStats.com, which specializes in analytical visualizations of NHL players, Nurse’s projected WAR% is a dismal 33 per cent, down from 43 per cent with the Oilers last year.
HockeyStats.com
Nurse’s microstats card shows that he is struggling mightily on the defensive end, most notably with puck management, zone exits, pass exits, and passes. For many Oilers fans, that shouldn’t shock anyone.
Edmonton may have moved away from Nurse at precisely the right time.
HockeyStats.com
Moving on from Nurse was clearly in the Oilers’ best interest. His poor play and high cap hit were starting to cause major problems, and it was a stroke of luck that GM Stan Bowman found the Sharks willing to take Nurse’s entire $9.25-million cap hit without any retention.
The hope was that Nurse would find a way to thrive outside Edmonton’s bright spotlight, but it doesn’t appear the milder San Jose weather is fixing the fundamental issues in his game.