Prospect Info: 9OA: Nate Danielson

[Geezer WC]

Damn, i'd hoped he was unlucky, seeing how he was only pacing for 9 goals on the season. But 3 goals on 37 shots sounds just about right, maybe he deserves 1 more goal.

The kid has underrated skill and shot, he just doesn't seem to bring it out consistently. Is he trying too hard to play a safe game?

I've always thought he plays just like Barzal. Not sure that's a negative.

 

[newfy]

Get ready for another long season then.... he's pointless in last 5 games with better linemates.

Yep, but I also watch the games and see that he plays pretty well even when hes not scoring. I dont expect 70 points out of a rookie, but I expect signs that he can do it in a few years. Kasper shows signs of being a really good offensive and defensive center in the NHL. His 5 games with "better" linemates has included replacing Berggren with Kane, and I'm not sure thats an upgrade at all, except on the PP

 

[Pavels Dog]

Get ready for another long season then.... he's pointless in last 5 games with better linemates.

Yeah, because Kane is unable to hit the broad side of a barn these days. On-ice s% of 3.8, which is by far the lowest among our regular players and one of the lowest in the entire NHL.

 

[Gniwder]

Yeah, because Kane is unable to hit the broad side of a barn these days. On-ice s% of 3.8, which is by far the lowest among our regular players and one of the lowest in the entire NHL.

Wow, didn't realize it was that bad.

Yep, but I also watch the games and see that he plays pretty well even when hes not scoring. I dont expect 70 points out of a rookie, but I expect signs that he can do it in a few years. Kasper shows signs of being a really good offensive and defensive center in the NHL. His 5 games with "better" linemates has included replacing Berggren with Kane, and I'm not sure thats an upgrade at all, except on the PP

Didn't Burger miss on his first 40 shot attempts or something along that area?

Fact of the matter is, unless Stevie goes all in on Rantanen or another top UFA winger to replace Kane, next season will be more of the same for Kasper and the team.

 

[jkutswings]

Fact of the matter is, unless Stevie goes all in on Rantanen or another top UFA winger to replace Kane, next season will be more of the same for Kasper and the team.

Move the Priority Waste Management patch from the jersey to the skates. Fans see less of an eyesore, players have a target whenever Copp is on the ice, and Copp scores 30 goals.

Everybody wins.

 

[Frk It]

18 assists in 40 games is pretty solid for him for this season. A little confused/concerned about how he only has 4 goals in 40 games though. I always thought he had a + shot and was someone who would be able to score goals.

Anyone who has had a chance to watch in GR able to add some context here?

 

[Tatar Shots]

18 assists in 40 games is pretty solid for him for this season. A little confused/concerned about how he only has 4 goals in 40 games though. I always thought he had a + shot and was someone who would be able to score goals.

Anyone who has had a chance to watch in GR able to add some context here?

I’d say it’s his style of play and lacking the goal scoring instinct. He reminds me of Filppula. Doesn’t look to shoot or drive the net nearly as much as he should given his talent. Not sure it’s something he ever grows out of

 

[Reddwit]

I’d say it’s his style of play and lacking the goal scoring instinct. He reminds me of Filppula. Doesn’t look to shoot or drive the net nearly as much as he should given his talent. Not sure it’s something he ever grows out of

Danielson has a lot more dog in his game than Flip did though. Until I see Danielson peel off to the boards on every offensive drive where there’s even a whiff of physical engagement down the middle, I’m not going to worry that he’s the second coming of Filppula. I’m sure management will work with Danielson to address the lack of goals anyway.

With that said, I’m not going to cry if Danielson is a 20/40 center instead of a 30/30 center, assuming he reaches his potential. He could be the perfect center for Buch and MBN who can both snipe it, giving us a line very similar to Kasper/Larkin/Ray.

 

[RedHawkDown]

We really need more out of this guy. He's essentially the same age as Kasper - youd hope for a better season out of him stats. Not officially worried yet but you'd like to see some positive development, instead it seems he has slowed down offensively.

 

[schuelma24]

We really need more out of this guy. He's essentially the same age as Kasper - youd hope for a better season out of him stats. Not officially worried yet but you'd like to see some positive development, instead it seems he has slowed down offensively.

I think a lot of it is him really just becoming more aggressive offensively. He has all the tools. Part of the problem I think is they've been relying on him very heavily with guys out and I suspect he's been just trying to keep the engine going and not necessarily showing off offensively.

That said ... he definitely seems like the type who doesn't automatically want to take a game over, and I think part of his development is learning to do that.

I'm still very optimistic on Danielson long term. He's showing he can be a playmaker (look at the assist numbers). But he needs to shoot more. (I'd also add for as good as GR is, they don't have a lot of natural playmakers giving Danielson easy goals).

 

[SirloinUB]

In addition to the Edvinsson conversation I shared the guys at the Athletic had a discussion on how Pronman ranked Danielson in his U23 rankings. Both of these conversations are about a weekish old. For context Wheeler was asked about rankings he disagreed with and had the following to say about Danielson coming in as the 36th ranked U23 player.

Wheeler: My big one, we’ve talked about it before, but it was Nate Danielson (at No. 36). When I was scrolling through the list, his name was the first one that sort of popped out at me and I sort of had a “Whoa” moment. Nate is one spot behind Will Smith and ahead of Parekh, Ryan Leonard and Lane Hutson, who we’ve already talked about ad nauseam.

I think that Leonard is a dominant force at every level he’s played at this point in his career. I think Parekh and Smith are two of the most purely skilled young players we have in this sport. And I just don’t see it with Nate.

I like that he’s a 6-foot-2 center who can skate and he’s competitive. He’s got four goals in the AHL this year. Good player. But if you’re talking about the impact and where they’re going to play in a lineup, I think that if Parekh, Leonard, Hutson, Smith — if those kinds of guys hit their ceiling, if those guys hit their mark, we’re talking about dynamic, dynamic players in the NHL. And I just do not think that Nate Danielson has that in him. I think even if Danielson hits his mark, he’s probably a 50-point center in the NHL. And I’m not even fully convinced that he’s going to get there in terms of the offensive piece of it.

I’ve never been able to really wrap my head around Nate. I think he’s going to be a good NHL player and have a long career, but I think there are players who are ranked in the same tier as him for this project who are just a clear, clear, clear cut above.

Pronman: The production hasn’t been amazing this year, but I would argue that he’s been (among) Grand Rapids’ 1-3 best players this season, as one of the youngest players in the American League. He’s playing every situation 19, 20 minutes a night for them. He stands out. I think that’s always kind of been the issue with Danielson is aesthetically he looks like a top prospect with the size (and) skating. I think he has really good skill, (so) I would disagree with that assessment. I think his skill really pops. I think he competes hard. I just think he doesn’t score goals really. That’s always a concern. And just the point production maybe doesn’t reflect to me what I see when I watch the player.

Max, I know you just went to watch him. In terms of what you saw, you seem to think that’s basically what you saw, was a guy who looked like a top prospect, right?

Bultman: Yeah, I mean, in the game I was at, he hit a post, he had an assist, he had two more rushes that I thought looked like they might become a goal.

I left that (game) feeling like that should have been a multi-point game for Danielson based on how it looked, and yet, you’re right. That is a familiar story at this point. And there is a little bit of tension between the tools, which I think look clearly like a top-six center, and you just want to see the results and the production match that.

Peters: Danielson has always been one of the toughest ones for me to evaluate as well. And I think the other thing compounding his production this year is Grand Rapids is averaging under three goals per game. That’s not a very high-scoring team.

He’s had some eye-popping plays throughout the season. But again, I think it all comes back to repeatability. And that’s the thing that I’ve never, ever felt, in multiple viewings over multiple events and multiple levels, that I’ve ever seen him do it.

Now, with the time that he has in the AHL, I think that the way that Detroit has typically had their prospects spend that time there, I think there is time for him to get there. And I think that until he’s there, I don’t see him as a top-of-the-lineup guy. And that’s probably my gripe as well. But again, I think it comes back to: you see all the tools. You see aesthetically, like Corey said, there is so much to like. It’s just a matter of when the rubber hits the road here.

 

[Michael Brand Eggs]

I'll be worried if he can't produce more in the second half, but I have a hard time putting much weight on anyone's first half as a rookie.

That said, his first half has been a fair bit better than Kasper's was.

 

[Our Lady Peace]

I think a lot of it is him really just becoming more aggressive offensively. He has all the tools. Part of the problem I think is they've been relying on him very heavily with guys out and I suspect he's been just trying to keep the engine going and not necessarily showing off offensively.

That said ... he definitely seems like the type who doesn't automatically want to take a game over, and I think part of his development is learning to do that.

I'm still very optimistic on Danielson long term. He's showing he can be a playmaker (look at the assist numbers). But he needs to shoot more. (I'd also add for as good as GR is, they don't have a lot of natural playmakers giving Danielson easy goals).

This

 

[norrisnick]

We really need more out of this guy. He's essentially the same age as Kasper - youd hope for a better season out of him stats. Not officially worried yet but you'd like to see some positive development, instead it seems he has slowed down offensively.

This is Danielson's first season playing against men. This is Kasper's 4th season playing against men. Age isn't the only development factor.

 

[Our Lady Peace]

I would also say the most glaring thing offensively is him being averse to doing the "wrong thing" e.g. taking risks with the puck like he did in junior. Shuelma said it well;

"He definitely seems like the type who doesn't automatically want to take a game over, and I think part of his development is learning to do that."

He will always be a coach's dream worrying about the defensive side of the puck. Learning to unleash himself, like he did in junior (particularly Portland) is what I think we will start to see more of in the coming month or two in GR. Also, he's been experimenting each game with different things he knows he needs to work on

One big thing I noticed is the stark contrast in how he plays versus where he's playing + the system that's being run. Brandon and Grand Rapids shared a similar defense-first system that relied heavily on Danielson to carry the offensive load where he already shouldered a lot defensively. Portland and Detroit I've noticed where Danielson wanted to fly more, even with the limited play in NHL preseason

I genuinely believe he thrives offensively in a fast-paced environment where other fast, quick-thinking players can bounce plays off of him. That includes getting him the puck and him having better shooting opportunities. Unfortunately, there's not that much skill around him in GR and combined with the defensive system, he primarily distributes

Danielson spoke this season not long ago about how he's learning what he can and can't do offensively in the AHL versus WHL. Honestly, how he played in junior looked pretty darn translatable to me. The self-confidence will come in that regard

His ability as a center to support the puck in his own zone is virtually second-to-none and how he's quick and can distribute the puck will go a lot longer in the NHL than it has in the AHL, with time IMO

I know I sound like the eternal optimist on him, though I do have my small worries. I love his game though and I trouble seeing how he's not eventually at least a 2C in the NHL, like a fleet-footed Jordan Staal

 

[Our Lady Peace]

Also, I will likely always link the two prospects together, so I've been following Dvorsky playing in Springfield lately just to make sure I'm up to date on his play from the OHL

Short form; we absolutely picked the right player. I do not like his game currently, despite how he's been leading Danielson in points (now only by 4) but also falls behind by 4 assists

Pros:
• Shifty, and neat hands in tight space (like along the boards) and can make effective area passes out of it
• Nice release on his wrist and slap shots, can pick corners quite well
• Good variance of shot selection
• Decent playmaking vision

Cons:
• Poor defensive IQ, sometimes I can't tell if he's a center or a winger. Sometimes very bad puck management there too
• Clunky, slow skater. It's easy to catch him so he relies on his hands to make a play. Though that works now, but he's gonna need extra speed to escape backcheckers in the NHL
• Still seems to play a junior-style game predicated on being an opportunistic scorer
• I don't see how he's a center, long term. Definitely a winger to me

 

[newfy]

We really need more out of this guy. He's essentially the same age as Kasper - youd hope for a better season out of him stats. Not officially worried yet but you'd like to see some positive development, instead it seems he has slowed down offensively.

His draft+2 year as an AHL rookie is on pace to have more points than Kasper in his draft+2 year as an AHL rookie. How many games have you watched? Kasper looks fine in the NHL right now and produced less last season

 

[Winger98]

He sounds like the ideal center for guys like Debrincat and Kane.

 

[Tatar Shots]

He sounds like the ideal center for guys like Debrincat and Kane.

Certainly seems like the type of center who will thrive with goal scoring wingers. Great at carrying the play, high IQ, smart play maker with quick decision making to find his teammates.

I think the athletic article really hit the nail on the head with Danielson. You love the skill set and see the potential, but he leaves you knowing he’s capable of more. Not to say he isn’t a good player now, he is going to have a long NHL career whether or not he really puts it all together.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

He needs to be a little more selfish with the puck and with getting the puck. I get it though, mistakes at the center position can be really, really costly.

 

[Ulysses31]

wonder if he cooks another year or nhl. obv depends on factors, camp etc

 

[RedHawkDown]

I’ll take yall word for it as I don’t watch the AHL. Really have high hopes for him.