PuckSleuth
25Cap hit
$9.25M
8.9% of $104M cap
Term
4 yrs
Through 2029-30, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
−$3.334M
vs. $5.916M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
17:07
PP 0:00 · PK 3:04
xGF%
47.3
5v5, -0.5 vs. last yr
Game Score
-0.52
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
0
Blocks 5 · Hits 2
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 vs FLA · W 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 17:07 | 0:00 | 3:04 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 0 | -0.52 |
| Apr 30 @ ANA · L 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 25:49 | 0:00 | 2:12 | — | 33 | 2 | 1 | +1 | -0.19 |
| Apr 28 vs ANA · W 4-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 23:19 | 1:00 | 1:00 | — | 17 | 1 | 0 | +1 | -0.17 |
| Apr 26 @ ANA · OTL 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 24:55 | 0:00 | 3:46 | — | 50 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -0.16 |
| Apr 24 @ ANA · L 7-4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 23:10 | 0:00 | 2:05 | — | 67 | 0 | 0 | +1 | -0.07 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,518 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
37th percentile
13th percentile
37th percentile
41st percentile
19th percentile
47th percentile
26th percentile
48th percentile
32nd percentile
65th percentile
65th percentile
65th percentile
18th percentile
75th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleOffensive-minded speed defender
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Nurse flies up the ice with elite speed and generates chances through volume shooting and strong forechecking. His defensive instincts lag behind his offensive tools, and he can be careless with possession in transition.
- Shooting volume
- 90
- Playmaking
- 48
- Zone entries(est.)
- 83
- Forechecking
- 71
- Physicality
- 86
- Defensive impact
- 22
- Puck management
- 41
- Speed
- 95
Where he shoots from
Slot 10% · Mid-range 29% · Perimeter 61%(238 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Elite speed (95th percentile) creates consistent rush chances and transition opportunities
- High shooting volume (90th percentile) with aggressive forechecking (71st percentile) powers offensive pressure
- Physical presence (86th percentile) protects the puck and establishes him in all situations
Watch-outs
- Defensive impact (22nd percentile) suggests he struggles with positioning and coverage decisions
- Puck management (41st percentile) shows occasional careless turnovers despite his transition confidence
Similar style: Alexander Nikishin, Nikita Zadorov (BOS)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 82 GP · goals above average
Season total -3.4 goals, or -0.04 per game.
- Even strength offense
- -0.4
- Even strength defense
- -0.8
- Power play
- +0.2
- Penalty kill
- -0.8
- Finishing
- +0.8
- Playmaking
- -1.2
- Penalties
- -1.3
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
By season
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | SJS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17:07 | — | -0.52 |
| 2025-26 | EDM | 82 | 7 | 17 | 24 | -12 | 164 | 20:58 | — | -0.04 |
| 2024-25 | EDM | 76 | 5 | 28 | 33 | +11 | 188 | 22:22 | — | -0.03 |
| 2023-24 | EDM | 81 | 10 | 22 | 32 | +3 | 181 | 21:54 | — | -0.01 |
| 2022-23 | EDM | 82 | 12 | 31 | 43 | +26 | 203 | 23:30 | — | -0.01 |
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Sharks Name 2026-27 Alternate Captains, Why Nurse Was Chosen
sanjosehockeynow.com · Oct 1
- What Darnell Nurse, Sharks said about facing the Florida Panthers in opener
The Vacaville Reporter · Oct 1
- Darnell Nurse on Being Named San Jose Sharks Alternate Captain
Yahoo Sports · Sep 30
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average -0.22 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 23.2 mph
- 96th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 101
- Hardest shot
- 94.5 mph
- 75th pct
- Distance
- 239.7 mi
- OZ time
- 40.1%
- 27th pct
- DZ time
- 42.5%
Age curve
NHL defensemen · production index
At 31, defensemen typically produce 86% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 34, when the typical level is 71%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
4 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | SJS | $9.25M | 8.9% |
| 2027-28 | SJS | $9.25M | 8.1% |
| 2028-29 | SJS | $9.25M | — |
| 2029-30 | SJS | $9.25M | — |
UFA after 2029-30. $37M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).