What happened: Reporter Pagnotta said on The Sheet that Boston had a trade in place with Edmonton to acquire defenseman Darnell Nurse. The framework fell apart when the player headed back to Edmonton in the deal declined to waive his trade protection, blocking the move.

Why it matters: Nurse carries one of the heavier blue-line contracts in the league, so any deal involving him reshapes both Edmonton's cap sheet and Boston's back end. The collapse is a reminder that no-trade protection can stall even an agreed-upon framework during the offseason, keeping both defense corps intact for now.

What to watch: Watch whether the two sides revisit the framework with a different return piece or pivot to other targets as the 2026-27 offseason plays out.