Kent Hughes pulled off the heist of the year thanks to the Edmonton Oilers

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Elias Edmonson
May 31, 2024 (2:58 PM)

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Shortly before becoming the GM of the Montreal Canadiens, Kent Hughes achieved quite a feat as an agent.

A feat that is somewhat sinking the Edmonton Oilers.

As TVA Sports reminds us, Hughes managed on August 6, 2021, to get his client an eight-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers, with an average annual value of $9.25M.

A heist by Kent Hughes from the Edmonton Oilers

To date, Nurse is the fifth highest-paid defenseman in terms of actual salary in the league, according to CapFriendly.

Rasmus Dahlin: $13 million
Dougie Hamilton: $12.6 million
Seth Jones: $12.5 million
Alex Pietrangelo: $12.5 million
Darnell Nurse: $12 million

Nearly three years later, it's safe to say the Oilers royally regret this deal. The defenseman is having a very tough playoff run, with only two assists and a -12 differential in 15 games. He also saw a decrease in playing time during the spring tournament, from 21 minutes and 54 seconds in the regular season to 19 minutes and 48 seconds in the playoffs. He is even playing less than Cody Ceci...

Kent Hughes was Darnell Nurse's agent who negotiated that 8 year, $74 million contract extension back in 2021.

I bet Oilers GM Ken Holland has blocked Kent's number ever since

The $9.25M on the salary cap, which is more than Leon Draisaitl ($8.5M), will hurt the Oilers for a long time, as the contract ends after the 2029-2030 season. The now 29-year-old defenseman also has a no-movement clause for the entire duration of his contract, making it very difficult for the Oilers to trade him.

With over 10 regular players set to become either fully or partially free agents on July 1st, Nurse's salary is a significant burden. It should also be noted that Draisaitl's contract will end after the next season, and he will surely want a significant raise.

Meanwhile, Connor McDavid's contract will end in two seasons, after the 2025-2026 campaign. It is likely that Ken Holland would have wanted a few extra million to ensure the return of his veterans.

Could Kent Hughes take advantage of the troubles he himself caused the Oilers? This will be a story to watch this summer!