“WE WILL MISS YOU A LOT”: A Star of Edmonton Oilers Hockey Will Not Be Continuing With the Team for the Upcoming Season, Head Coach Mike Babcock Has Confirmed… 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐚 👇

🚨🏒💔 “WE WILL MISS YOU A LOT” — EDMONTON OILERS FANS ARE FACING A MAJOR CHANGE AHEAD OF THE NEW SEASON

The Edmonton Oilers are entering a new era, and one familiar name will no longer be part of the organization as the club prepares for the 2026–27 NHL season.

After years in Edmonton, Darnell Nurse has departed the Oilers, bringing an end to an 11-year chapter with the organization. Nurse was also an assistant captain for seven seasons, making his departure significant both on the ice and inside the locker room.

The change comes at a particularly important moment for Edmonton. The team has brought in Mike Babcock as its new head coach, and the 2026–27 campaign will mark his first season back behind an NHL bench since his previous NHL coaching tenure ended.

Babcock has already begun putting his stamp on the team during training camp. Edmonton opened camp with 56 players competing for roster spots, with the regular season scheduled to begin September 29 against the Vancouver Canucks.

And Nurse’s departure has already resulted in a change to the Oilers’ leadership group.

Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard have been named assistant captains, joining captain Connor McDavid and assistants Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The Oilers described the appointments as filling the leadership void created by Nurse’s departure.

General manager Stan Bowman also addressed Nurse’s exit during training camp, acknowledging that the Oilers now have “a different look” on their blue line. He described Nurse as a great Oiler while emphasizing that changes can happen for both the player and the organization.

Meanwhile, Babcock’s first training camp has already been intense. His opening on-ice session reportedly lasted four hours, with an emphasis on pace, fitness, structure and establishing the habits he wants from the group.

The Oilers are therefore heading into the new season with several questions surrounding the roster, leadership and defensive structure.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl remain at the center of Edmonton’s plans, while Bouchard now takes on an even greater leadership role and younger players such as Isaac Howard are competing for expanded opportunities.

💔 For Oilers supporters, however, the biggest emotional part of the story may simply be saying goodbye to a player who spent more than a decade wearing the Edmonton jersey.

🏒 A new chapter is beginning in Oil Country.

👇 Oilers fans — what will you remember most about Darnell Nurse’s time in Edmonton?