San Jose Sharks linked to Morgan Rielly and Darnell Nurse in potential defensive overhaul
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Daniel Lucente
Mar 26, 2026 (1:36 PM)
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Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
David Pagnotta's tweet puts Morgan Rielly and Darnell Nurse in Ryan Warsofsky's summer frame, and that's where San Jose's blue-line math gets real.
Rielly is 32, Toronto's 2012 first-round pick, and he carries a $7,500,000 cap hit through 2029-30 with a no-movement clause in 2025-26.
Darnell Nurse is 31, Edmonton's 2013 first-round pick, and his number is heavier at $9,250,000 through 2029-30. He also has no-movement protection.
That matters because San Jose is not shopping for a name. Mike Grier is shopping for a left-shot defender who can move pucks, settle exits, and take heat off a young bench.
Pagnotta expects the Sharks to get aggressive this summer and floated both Rielly and Nurse as possible targets. That shifts this from noise to roster-build discussion.
If San Jose makes one big swing, the cleaner fit is Rielly. His cap hit is easier to absorb, and his contract asks for less financial gymnastics than Nurse's.
Why Morgan Rielly makes more sense than Darnell Nurse
Warsofsky's group needs a defender who can help the first pass and keep the puck moving north. That's the plain hockey case for Rielly.
The Nurse option feels harder. At $9,250,000, San Jose would be taking on a bigger bet, and any serious discussion would naturally raise the retention question. That is a much tougher structure.
There is another layer here. Because both players have no-movement protection, this is not just about what San Jose wants; it is also about what Toronto or Edmonton can sell.
That is why Rielly stands out as the sharper strategic read. He gives San Jose blue-line support without forcing the same financial squeeze Nurse would bring.
So this should not be framed as Sharks rumor theater. It should be framed as a front-office test: how aggressive is Mike Grier willing to get to speed up the rebuild on the back end.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 26|72 ANSWERS San Jose Sharks linked to Morgan Rielly and Darnell Nurse in potential defensive overhaul Should Mike Grier push harder for Morgan Rielly than Darnell Nurse? | ||
| Yes | 40 | 55.6 % |
| No | 32 | 44.4 % |
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