Prospect Info: 9OA: Nate Danielson

[Pavels Dog]

Because Danielson didn't have a post-draft season of a player picked in the top 10 of the draft. You expect a guy to make a massive development jump from the pre-draft season to the post-draft season in juniors, that didn't at all happen. A top ten NHL pick would be expected to basically be one of the absolute best players in the WHL in that year. Danielson was #49 in WHL scoring this season. He was #22 in the pre-draft season, so he actually had a worse season this year even though he's a year older and should be stronger and more experienced and simply much better than his competitors. No way did anyone in the Wings organization expect that he'd stall out production-wise.

I mean in this thread people bring up comparisons like Larkin or Toews, guys who pulverized much better college competition in their post-draft seasons. There's a reason the conversation is leaning toward "he's going to be a good role player" because that's where the indicators point. I meane even the Larkin/Toews projections, as wishful homer thinking as they are basically betray the fact that this guy's offense isn't high level enough as neither one of those guys is an elite scorer. If he turns into a good checking line forward who gets 800+ NHL games, he wouldn't be a bust but he also wouldn't be the guy they thought they were picking at #9.

Someone said the Wings need centermen, yeah, that is 100% true, but they really need a centerman who can be top 10 in league scoring, not just a guy who's dependable on the PK and can eat minutes. I'm not writing Danielson off or anything, I'm just pointing out the obvious fact that he hasn't developed in the way he would have been expected to.

Brutal timing on this awful take.

 

[TCNorthstars]

Because Danielson didn't have a post-draft season of a player picked in the top 10 of the draft. You expect a guy to make a massive development jump from the pre-draft season to the post-draft season in juniors, that didn't at all happen. A top ten NHL pick would be expected to basically be one of the absolute best players in the WHL in that year. Danielson was #49 in WHL scoring this season. He was #22 in the pre-draft season, so he actually had a worse season this year even though he's a year older and should be stronger and more experienced and simply much better than his competitors. No way did anyone in the Wings organization expect that he'd stall out production-wise.

I mean in this thread people bring up comparisons like Larkin or Toews, guys who pulverized much better college competition in their post-draft seasons. There's a reason the conversation is leaning toward "he's going to be a good role player" because that's where the indicators point. I meane even the Larkin/Toews projections, as wishful homer thinking as they are basically betray the fact that this guy's offense isn't high level enough as neither one of those guys is an elite scorer. If he turns into a good checking line forward who gets 800+ NHL games, he wouldn't be a bust but he also wouldn't be the guy they thought they were picking at #9.

Someone said the Wings need centermen, yeah, that is 100% true, but they really need a centerman who can be top 10 in league scoring, not just a guy who's dependable on the PK and can eat minutes. I'm not writing Danielson off or anything, I'm just pointing out the obvious fact that he hasn't developed in the way he would have been expected to.

I think you should look back at draft history of the 8-10 picks and see how few have had seasons as top 10 scorers let alone perennially there. You need to re adjust your expectations of a 9th overall pick. They don’t tend to be superstars.

 

[Our Lady Peace]

Because Danielson didn't have a post-draft season of a player picked in the top 10 of the draft. You expect a guy to make a massive development jump from the pre-draft season to the post-draft season in juniors, that didn't at all happen. A top ten NHL pick would be expected to basically be one of the absolute best players in the WHL in that year. Danielson was #49 in WHL scoring this season. He was #22 in the pre-draft season, so he actually had a worse season this year even though he's a year older and should be stronger and more experienced and simply much better than his competitors. No way did anyone in the Wings organization expect that he'd stall out production-wise.

I mean in this thread people bring up comparisons like Larkin or Toews, guys who pulverized much better college competition in their post-draft seasons. There's a reason the conversation is leaning toward "he's going to be a good role player" because that's where the indicators point. I meane even the Larkin/Toews projections, as wishful homer thinking as they are basically betray the fact that this guy's offense isn't high level enough as neither one of those guys is an elite scorer. If he turns into a good checking line forward who gets 800+ NHL games, he wouldn't be a bust but he also wouldn't be the guy they thought they were picking at #9.

Someone said the Wings need centermen, yeah, that is 100% true, but they really need a centerman who can be top 10 in league scoring, not just a guy who's dependable on the PK and can eat minutes. I'm not writing Danielson off or anything, I'm just pointing out the obvious fact that he hasn't developed in the way he would have been expected to.

The bolded is a really off-base, poorly timed take. He's literally on another level these playoffs and leading the team he got traded to where he is by far their most effective player.

What more besides being "higher in individual scoring" in the regular season could he possibly be doing to justify his draft slot? He has 20 points in 12 playoff games currently.

Why does a limited view on his history have to indicate his development path for the future? He's effectively showing us what he's capable of by leveling up his game in the regular season not only from his D-1, but now to the playoffs centering a WHL contender one win away from the finals.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Because Danielson didn't have a post-draft season of a player picked in the top 10 of the draft. You expect a guy to make a massive development jump from the pre-draft season to the post-draft season in juniors, that didn't at all happen. A top ten NHL pick would be expected to basically be one of the absolute best players in the WHL in that year. Danielson was #49 in WHL scoring this season. He was #22 in the pre-draft season, so he actually had a worse season this year even though he's a year older and should be stronger and more experienced and simply much better than his competitors. No way did anyone in the Wings organization expect that he'd stall out production-wise.

I mean in this thread people bring up comparisons like Larkin or Toews, guys who pulverized much better college competition in their post-draft seasons. There's a reason the conversation is leaning toward "he's going to be a good role player" because that's where the indicators point. I meane even the Larkin/Toews projections, as wishful homer thinking as they are basically betray the fact that this guy's offense isn't high level enough as neither one of those guys is an elite scorer. If he turns into a good checking line forward who gets 800+ NHL games, he wouldn't be a bust but he also wouldn't be the guy they thought they were picking at #9.

Someone said the Wings need centermen, yeah, that is 100% true, but they really need a centerman who can be top 10 in league scoring, not just a guy who's dependable on the PK and can eat minutes. I'm not writing Danielson off or anything, I'm just pointing out the obvious fact that he hasn't developed in the way he would have been expected to.

Brandon is a really bad team. He scored a point per game there.
Portland is a really good team. He scored at about a 100 point pace there.
He’s also killing it these playoffs.

He’s doing fine.

 

[SCD]

I'm

Because Danielson didn't have a post-draft season of a player picked in the top 10 of the draft. You expect a guy to make a massive development jump from the pre-draft season to the post-draft season in juniors, that didn't at all happen. A top ten NHL pick would be expected to basically be one of the absolute best players in the WHL in that year. Danielson was #49 in WHL scoring this season. He was #22 in the pre-draft season, so he actually had a worse season this year even though he's a year older and should be stronger and more experienced and simply much better than his competitors. No way did anyone in the Wings organization expect that he'd stall out production-wise.

I mean in this thread people bring up comparisons like Larkin or Toews, guys who pulverized much better college competition in their post-draft seasons. There's a reason the conversation is leaning toward "he's going to be a good role player" because that's where the indicators point. I meane even the Larkin/Toews projections, as wishful homer thinking as they are basically betray the fact that this guy's offense isn't high level enough as neither one of those guys is an elite scorer. If he turns into a good checking line forward who gets 800+ NHL games, he wouldn't be a bust but he also wouldn't be the guy they thought they were picking at #9.

Someone said the Wings need centermen, yeah, that is 100% true, but they really need a centerman who can be top 10 in league scoring, not just a guy who's dependable on the PK and can eat minutes. I'm not writing Danielson off or anything, I'm just pointing out the obvious fact that he hasn't developed in the way he would have been expected to.

No, you need a player that makes everyone around him better. Not just a goal scorer who can be shut down in the playoffs. Danielson's playmaking tilts the ice and improves possession numbers which is key to playoff success.

He and Larkin will make a great one-two punch, and will be a very capable replacement when Larkin isn't in the lineup.

 

[Ezekial]

I don't worry about not picking Benson at all, in my mind the fact that Benson made the NHL this season will mean nothing between them in a couple years. It's not like Benson came in and ravaged the NHL. He had a solid season for a teenager.

It's just something tangible (not really because he wouldn't have made the Wings) people can point at and say "look at the mistake!" when its way too early to call it that.

 

[Pavels Dog]

I don't worry about not picking Benson at all, in my mind the fact that Benson made the NHL this season will mean nothing between them in a couple years. It's not like Benson came in and ravaged the NHL. He had a solid season for a teenager.

Buffalo was ahead of us last season. They added Benson and took a step back. We improved.
It's more than Benson as a factor for the Sabres, but a little interesting that people are hyping him up so much for playing in the NHL when most good GMs would not have put him in the NHL.

 

[lomekian]

Does anyone here actually think that if the Wings had known how the 23/24 season would turn out, they'd have picked Danielson at #9 overall? In reality, there's no flipping way they would have.

Why not?

There are a few players picked later with comparable overall seasons or slightly better point totals on stronger teams, but only Benson has played at the NHL, and given Danielson's pre-season its not hard to see him achieving similar results.

Not saying you are wrong, but I'd be interested to see what choice you think they would have made instead and why

I also don’t know why everyone keeps saying we need centres as if we also don’t need wingers. We have Raymond and DBC, and then who else? Having high octane offensive wingers is a huge need for this team as well.

We clearly need both, but centres are harder to come by via trade or FA (Unless they are of the Copp/Compher variety, which we hope Danilson will surpass, though Compher has been fine)

 

[Pavels Dog]

We clearly need both, but centres are harder to come by via trade or FA (Unless they are of the Copp/Compher variety, which we hope Danilson will surpass, though Compher has been fine)

It's also far easier to shift a center to wing than the other way around.

 

[jkutswings]

Because Danielson didn't have a post-draft season of a player picked in the top 10 of the draft. You expect a guy to make a massive development jump from the pre-draft season to the post-draft season in juniors, that didn't at all happen. A top ten NHL pick would be expected to basically be one of the absolute best players in the WHL in that year. Danielson was #49 in WHL scoring this season. He was #22 in the pre-draft season, so he actually had a worse season this year even though he's a year older and should be stronger and more experienced and simply much better than his competitors. No way did anyone in the Wings organization expect that he'd stall out production-wise.

I mean in this thread people bring up comparisons like Larkin or Toews, guys who pulverized much better college competition in their post-draft seasons. There's a reason the conversation is leaning toward "he's going to be a good role player" because that's where the indicators point. I meane even the Larkin/Toews projections, as wishful homer thinking as they are basically betray the fact that this guy's offense isn't high level enough as neither one of those guys is an elite scorer. If he turns into a good checking line forward who gets 800+ NHL games, he wouldn't be a bust but he also wouldn't be the guy they thought they were picking at #9.

Someone said the Wings need centermen, yeah, that is 100% true, but they really need a centerman who can be top 10 in league scoring, not just a guy who's dependable on the PK and can eat minutes. I'm not writing Danielson off or anything, I'm just pointing out the obvious fact that he hasn't developed in the way he would have been expected to.

 

[schuelma24]

Since Portland went down 1-0 in the conference finals, he has 10 points in 3 games and they're now up 3-1.

Because Danielson didn't have a post-draft season of a player picked in the top 10 of the draft. You expect a guy to make a massive development jump from the pre-draft season to the post-draft season in juniors, that didn't at all happen. A top ten NHL pick would be expected to basically be one of the absolute best players in the WHL in that year. Danielson was #49 in WHL scoring this season. He was #22 in the pre-draft season, so he actually had a worse season this year even though he's a year older and should be stronger and more experienced and simply much better than his competitors. No way did anyone in the Wings organization expect that he'd stall out production-wise.

I mean in this thread people bring up comparisons like Larkin or Toews, guys who pulverized much better college competition in their post-draft seasons. There's a reason the conversation is leaning toward "he's going to be a good role player" because that's where the indicators point. I meane even the Larkin/Toews projections, as wishful homer thinking as they are basically betray the fact that this guy's offense isn't high level enough as neither one of those guys is an elite scorer. If he turns into a good checking line forward who gets 800+ NHL games, he wouldn't be a bust but he also wouldn't be the guy they thought they were picking at #9.

Someone said the Wings need centermen, yeah, that is 100% true, but they really need a centerman who can be top 10 in league scoring, not just a guy who's dependable on the PK and can eat minutes. I'm not writing Danielson off or anything, I'm just pointing out the obvious fact that he hasn't developed in the way he would have been expected to.

He's now #3 in WHL playoff scoring.

 

[DTR]

Danielson has 61 points in 40 games with Portland, which is a 104 point pace over a 68 game WHL season.

 

[DamonDRW]

Maybe a lot early year struggles are attributed to him leaving excellent impressions in the training camp and in exhibition games and then leaving for a team two tiers below that had absolutely no chances for success. It would affected me for example if I would be him.

Now, when playing for Portland maybe we see a real Danielsson with 1.5 pts pace in the regular season and even better than that in the playoffs.

 

[jkutswings]

Danielson has 61 points in 40 games with Portland, which is a 104 point pace over a 68 game WHL season.

There is logic and there is The Narrative. And thy logic shall never disturbeth The Narrative, even unto the ends of the Earth.

 

[RED WINGS STOMP]

Does anyone here actually think that if the Wings had known how the 23/24 season would turn out, they'd have picked Danielson at #9 overall? In reality, there's no flipping way they would have.

Because Danielson didn't have a post-draft season of a player picked in the top 10 of the draft. You expect a guy to make a massive development jump from the pre-draft season to the post-draft season in juniors, that didn't at all happen. A top ten NHL pick would be expected to basically be one of the absolute best players in the WHL in that year. Danielson was #49 in WHL scoring this season. He was #22 in the pre-draft season, so he actually had a worse season this year even though he's a year older and should be stronger and more experienced and simply much better than his competitors. No way did anyone in the Wings organization expect that he'd stall out production-wise.

I mean in this thread people bring up comparisons like Larkin or Toews, guys who pulverized much better college competition in their post-draft seasons. There's a reason the conversation is leaning toward "he's going to be a good role player" because that's where the indicators point. I meane even the Larkin/Toews projections, as wishful homer thinking as they are basically betray the fact that this guy's offense isn't high level enough as neither one of those guys is an elite scorer. If he turns into a good checking line forward who gets 800+ NHL games, he wouldn't be a bust but he also wouldn't be the guy they thought they were picking at #9.

Someone said the Wings need centermen, yeah, that is 100% true, but they really need a centerman who can be top 10 in league scoring, not just a guy who's dependable on the PK and can eat minutes. I'm not writing Danielson off or anything, I'm just pointing out the obvious fact that he hasn't developed in the way he would have been expected to.

I am thinking we should all start getting used to this, much like the "Larkin isn't a 1C" that can pollute this board, especially when Larks doesn't have his best game.

My man, I get it, YOU didn't like the Danielson pick, YOU wanted somebody else.

But to think that based on what has happened since the draft, that Wings management for some reason be would upset/disappointed with their Danielson pick and wished they had some else? At a time where Danielson is showing out during juniors championship final no less? Dude, GTFO. I bet the Wings are thrilled with the pick.

 

[PullHard]

There’s “having an opinion” and then there’s Being Wrong

 

[OldnotDeadWings]

Y'all are putting too much effort into countering the offending post with logical and intelligent comments. That OP based their argument on rankings of Total Points in the WHL, but in looking at the TP column near the far right of the stat page, and noting the ranking number on the far left of the stat page, he failed to take into account the GP column in the middle of the stat page. It's my experience the number in the GP column has a direct bearing on the number in the TP column.

Could be wrong, but I'm not inclined to put much stock in Danielson career projections by a guy who ignores the GP column.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

Nothing says I don't actually watch prospects like blindly regurgitating stats.

I would also add that a 9OA pick really isn't that high all things considered.

 

[schuelma24]

Y'all are putting too much effort into countering the offending post with logical and intelligent comments. That OP based their argument on rankings of Total Points in the WHL, but in looking at the TP column near the far right of the stat page, and noting the ranking number on the far left of the stat page, he failed to take into account the GP column in the middle of the stat page. It's my experience the number in the GP column has a direct bearing on the number in the TP column.

Could be wrong, but I'm not inclined to put much stock in Danielson career projections by a guy who ignores the GP column.

Ha. Wow.

 

[Roomba With a Bauer]

Danielson had 1.42 p/g in Portland during the regular season, and has 1.67 p/g thus far in the playoffs. Every time I watch video of him, he is skating his ass off and tilting the ice.

He's the kind of guy we need on this roster.

 

[raymond23]

He’s probably the second best skater in the organization behind Larkin. The way he moves around the ice is pretty captivating. He does it with such control too

His frame suggests that he’ll get a lot stronger over time

Hard to argue with his draft position when you watch him play. Really glad he can go pro after the season

 

[RedHawkDown]

Man if he can become Larkin 2.0 with better passing and worse shooting , with a better defensive IQ, that’s kind of exactly the type of C we need. I hope he plays in Detroit next year. I can see him making the team like Larkin did in his D+2.

Sign Stamkos and put him beside Danielson as a mentor and watch the Calder come back to Detroit.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

He’s probably the second best skater in the organization behind Larkin. The way he moves around the ice is pretty captivating. He does it with such control too

His frame suggests that he’ll get a lot stronger over time

Hard to argue with his draft position when you watch him play. Really glad he can go pro after the season

The more I watch Danielson this postseason the more I think he’s ready for a top 9, or even top 6 (if we get good wingers) role in Detroit. I think he’d be fine between two solid veterans.

 

[Frk It]

Last year with Brandon, he was pulling off risky moves rather in a trial-and-error fashion. Showed his raw-ness offensively but sometimes just ran himself out of plays by holding onto the puck a bit too long.

This season in Brandon he was trying some of the same and maybe seeing a slight bit more success. At the same time their system relied on him to do the same things at ES + PP and I think it stifled his creativity. Now with Portland he's facilitating a lot more and landing more assists on the scoresheet.

I will say if his release was just a bit quicker to get off (it's still fairly quick) he could be a serious goal scoring threat of 35+ goals.

I see some here say they wish he was a little more selfish and I tend to agree although he's primarily a distributor of the puck.

He's showing he's not some "rush-only goal scorer". Dual threat, 2-way center who's very dangerous in transition with speed. That's why I think his upside is a lot higher than some give him credit for.

Yeah, this is what I was going to say. My only critique of his game would be I don't know how much creativity he brings or how much he will be able to create out of nothing (although we have seen him to this before). I think he is playing a more direct and efficient game this year. I think that might suit him better and be more of the type of game he will play as a pro. Kind of like Kesler/Larkin.

The amount of assists this season has been really encouraging. The fact that you saw that jump when he moved to Portland tells me he was creating those chances all year, just looks better when you are playing with better players.

 

[RedWingzz]

love how he is elevating his game when the games matter more

It's like Raymond, we need these big game players to step up in crunch time. Danielson is a sure fire top 6 forward in the NHL, who knows what his ceiling is, but hes trending in the right direction.