Darnell Nurse's return to form allows the Oilers to worry less about their blueline.

Going into the season, the Oilers had one key need: a second-pair defenceman.

Whoever that player was, he'd have to replace and improve upon Cody Ceci next to Darnell Nurse on the second pair. But while that hole certainly existed, and Ceci definitely wasn't the right man for the job, the search for Nurse's partner had a more concerning undertone: Nurse needs a new partner, because he might not be good enough on his own.

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But as we sit here in late January, neither of the Oilers' blueline additions has played a single minute this season, and both Pierre LeBrun and Daniel Nugent-Bowman report that the team is mostly targeting depth defencemen at the trade deadline.

So what changed?

Darnell Nurse changed. Coming off two trying seasons and an underwhelming postseason, the Oilers' $9.25 million man was one of the team's biggest question marks going into the season. Without Nurse at his best, their defensive depth was suspect, to say the least.

But Nurse has silenced his doubters so far this year. No longer shackled to Ceci (who has put up dismal numbers in San Jose), Nurse is enjoying his best season since the 2021 bubble campaign that earned him his $74 million extension.

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With Evan Bouchard not quite repeating last year's career year and Mattias Ekholm showing signs of slight decline, Nurse has been the Oilers' best defender some nights. Bouchard and Ekholm are still one of the best pairings in the league, making Nurse a very valuable luxury.

Even more impressive is that he's doing this without a regular partner. He's split his time next to Brett Kulak and Troy Stecher, elevating two erstwhile depth defencemen into solid #4s. Nurse's play with Kulak has been especially impressive, garnering a 58.7% expected goals share in 292 minutes together.

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With John Klingberg's imminent return, Nurse may soon have another new partner. While we have no idea what the newest Oiler will look like after his major hip surgery, the best version of Klingberg is a high-end puck mover who can allow Nurse to focus on the defensive side of the game.

Even if Klingberg isn't ready for top-four minutes, the hope is that he can take Stecher's spot and split time with Kulak as a 4/5 defenceman, improving the third pair. 

While the Oilers' blueline mix is still far from settled, one thing is for sure: they don't need to worry about Darnell Nurse. Whether Klingberg hits or not, the Oilers' top four is in good hands.

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