Prospect Info: 9OA: Nate Danielson

[heyfolks]

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.

birth year/draft year matters.

Kasper was 14/21/35 in 71 games.

TheAHL.com | The American Hockey League

theahl.com

Nate is 4/18/22 in 40 games.

TheAHL.com | The American Hockey League

theahl.com

If you project those numbers are out they are fairly close to one another. Linemates, TOI, PP/PK all of that stuff are other factors. I just don't watch enough GR to comment.

 

[Our Lady Peace]

Nice read about Danielson. I've always liked the way he carries himself

Griffins’ Danielson aiming for the stars

theahl.com

 

[Snuggs]

Danielson is doing "alright"; He plays with Veterans mostly and is getting 2nd line minutes. GR currently is sucking, but overall Danielson doesn't look bad (or great) out on the ice.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

In the dozen or so games I have watched he has been very noticeable and engaged in the play. He doesn't look over his head. Playing center is legitimately difficult. The vast majority of posters will never fully appreciate this and continue to generically compare wings to centers. All this said, we do need to see an uptick in his production over the balance of the season and more importantly, he does need to have a big offseason in the gym.

 

[jkutswings]

In the dozen or so games I have watched he has been very noticeable and engaged in the play. He doesn't look over his head. Playing center is legitimately difficult. The vast majority of posters will never fully appreciate this and continue to generically compare wings to centers. All this said, we do need to see an uptick in his production over the balance of the season and more importantly, he does need to have a big offseason in the gym.

Agreed. So if Watson ended up being the Elmer whisperer, who's the Nate equivalent?

 

[Tatar Shots]

In the dozen or so games I have watched he has been very noticeable and engaged in the play. He doesn't look over his head. Playing center is legitimately difficult. The vast majority of posters will never fully appreciate this and continue to generically compare wings to centers. All this said, we do need to see an uptick in his production over the balance of the season and more importantly, he does need to have a big offseason in the gym.

My only issue is how long are we going to keep saying that we need to see an uptick in production? I hope he really puts it together offensively, I’m just becoming quite skeptical that he will learn to play with the confidence and mentality to do so.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

My only issue is how long are we going to keep saying that we need to see an uptick in production? I hope he really puts it together offensively, I’m just becoming quite skeptical that he will learn to play with the confidence and mentality to do so.

How long? Probably for a while given that he is 20 years old and has played all of 45 professional games.

 

[Tatar Shots]

How long? Probably for a while given that he is 20 years old and has played all of 45 professional games.

It’s not just as a professional. This has been going on since juniors. He’s got incredible talent in all facets, be it skill, IQ, or athleticism. He simply doesn’t look to assert himself with the mentality and confidence that’s needed to dominate play offensively. Maybe he grows out of that, but it’s at least concerning at this point. He reminds me a lot of Filppula in that regard where you know he’s capable of more if he could flip the switch in the way he thinks. That’s easier said than done.

That said, Filppula was a very valuable player in the NHL for a very long time. We should be thrilled if Danielson becomes a Filppula level player.

 

[Hazy Little Thing]

Does he have any offense????

0 points in his last 8 games
3 points in his last 15 games
6 points in his last 21 games

1+5=6 in that time

1 goal on 45 shots

 

[saska sault]

Considering how we have seen Edvinsson, Kasper, Johansson and even Bergrren floruish to varying extents with just a coaching change, I wouldn't worry too much about Danielson. First year pro, playing the middle... Griffins arent lighting the world on fire lately, and he plays a prime position. People were calling for Kasper to be sent down, he was a bust, he looked over his head, didnt create offense like 25 games ago... things take time.

 

[RED WINGS STOMP]

I am as big of a Danielson truther as there out there, but even I admit, he has to start getting going again. Production matters at some point.

 

[Lampedampe]

0 points in his last 8 games
3 points in his last 15 games
6 points in his last 21 games

1+5=6 in that time

1 goal on 45 shots

Atleast he started shooting.

Could part of the reason be that is adjusting his offence?

He was producing more points when he was averaging less than 1 shot a game.

 

[Ezekial]

Nice read about Danielson. I've always liked the way he carries himself

Griffins’ Danielson aiming for the stars

theahl.com

Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky, and as a prospect in the Detroit Red Wings organization’s galaxy of potential stars, Grand Rapids Griffins center Nate Danielson is as serious as they come.

Found the plausible Keats copycat

 

[Retire91]

Dude is 5 months into being a 20 year old and his first year pro. Let's chill on the projection side a bit lol. 20 points is not terrible no matter how many games they come in. He could be working on other aspects of his game, nursing an injury, or just snake bitten.

 

[Hazy Little Thing]

Dude is 5 months into being a 20 year old and his first year pro. Let's chill on the projection side a bit lol. 20 points is not terrible no matter how many games they come in. He could be working on other aspects of his game, nursing an injury, or just snake bitten.

He’s great defensively. The part of his game that needs working on is his offensive production if we want him to be an above average middle six center for us.

 

[cjm502]

birth year/draft year matters.

Kasper was 14/21/35 in 71 games.

TheAHL.com | The American Hockey League

theahl.com

Nate is 4/18/22 in 40 games.

TheAHL.com | The American Hockey League

theahl.com

If you project those numbers are out they are fairly close to one another. Linemates, TOI, PP/PK all of that stuff are other factors. I just don't watch enough GR to comment.

Its also worth mentioning that Danielson is playing his first pro season while Kasper played an entire season of pro hockey in the SHL prior to the AHL.

0 points in his last 8 games
3 points in his last 15 games
6 points in his last 21 games

1+5=6 in that time

1 goal on 45 shots

The Griffins offense has been slowing down overall, I wouldn't dig too deep in to the numbers. As long as he is passing the eye test. I do think Danielson will need another season in the AHL to put it all together, but he is doing fine right now.

 

[Hazy Little Thing]

It’s also worth mentioning that Danielson is playing his first pro season while Kasper played an entire season of pro hockey in the SHL prior to the AHL.

The counter to this though is that Danielson has been playing NA hockey his whole life whereas Kasper had to adjust to it his first year in the AHL, the excuses essentially wash out.

 

[jkutswings]

The counter to this though is that Danielson has been playing NA hockey his whole life whereas Kasper had to adjust to it his first year in the AHL, the excuses essentially wash out.

And the counter to the counter is that it's kinda silly to draw any firm conclusions this early in a career.

Lots of people had concerns about Kasper as recently as a few months ago. We all WANT to see more scoring from Danielson, but let it marinate a bit.

 

[Henkka]

It’s not just as a professional. This has been going on since juniors. He’s got incredible talent in all facets, be it skill, IQ, or athleticism. He simply doesn’t look to assert himself with the mentality and confidence that’s needed to dominate play offensively. Maybe he grows out of that, but it’s at least concerning at this point. He reminds me a lot of Filppula in that regard where you know he’s capable of more if he could flip the switch in the way he thinks. That’s easier said than done.

That said, Filppula was a very valuable player in the NHL for a very long time. We should be thrilled if Danielson becomes a Filppula level player.

People are saying this team will need a 2nd line Center and Filppula was that 2nd line Center for Championship team. What's the problem in here?

 

[schuelma24]

I'm as guilty of stat watching as anyone, but I try to remember that in the long term of a prospect's career, one or two weeks doesn't mean much of anything - as long as he's not getting benched and clearly going backwards, not getting 3 points in a 10 game span he probably should have isn't going to mean anything.

Heck look at Elmer. He was snakebitten the first few months of the year in GR and even when he was promoted wasn't setting the world on fire stats wise. But he was clearly growing and developing.

 

[Winger98]

Just to pile on the the heap of not worrying about it, this is also where you lean a bit on the character of the kid. Intangibles seem to be something the Wings weight heavily when drafting a kid, and I think we have seen it pay off with how so many of their top picks keep working and getting better.

I have seen nothing said about Danielson that even hints that he doesn't have these intangibles. He's a 20 year old holding down a ton of responsibility in a pro league, often against players older and more developed than himself. Is it a guarantee that he'll reach whatever imagined ceiling we place on him? No, but I think it means that he'll give himself the best opportunity to reach it.

 

[jkutswings]

Just to pile on the the heap of not worrying about it, this is also where you lean a bit on the character of the kid. Intangibles seem to be something the Wings weight heavily when drafting a kid, and I think we have seen it pay off with how so many of their top picks keep working and getting better.

I have seen nothing said about Danielson that even hints that he doesn't have these intangibles. He's a 20 year old holding down a ton of responsibility in a pro league, often against players older and more developed than himself. Is it a guarantee that he'll reach whatever imagined ceiling we place on him? No, but I think it means that he'll give himself the best opportunity to reach it.

Agreed. Making absolutely no talent comparison, if there's one prospect that reminds me of the mental toughness and willpower of the GM who drafted him, it's Nate.

Nothing's ever a guarantee, but I like Danielson's chances of adjusting and continuing to develop into a very successful NHL player.

 

[Tatar Shots]

People are saying this team will need a 2nd line Center and Filppula was that 2nd line Center for Championship team. What's the problem in here?

I don’t see a problem, like I said, Filppula was a very good player for a very long time and I’d be thrilled with Danielson having that career.

My concern with Danielson offensively is the same frustration that I had with Filppula. My concern with Danielson is the mentality that he brings to the game offensively. He’s far too reserved and deferential. He’s got such a great combo of size, skating, and hands that he simply does not rely on anywhere near the extent to which he should.

It gets talked a lot about young players experimenting and testing what they’re capable of getting away with. To a large degree, Danielson simply doesn’t do this to the extent of his skillset. And I think it is a lot easier said than done to tell him to change the mentality that he approaches the game with. People get far too caught up in point totals. I couldn’t care less if Danielson went pointless the rest of the season if he started playing more aggressively offensively and using his size, skating, and hands to create more opportunities for himself and his teammates. I’d really like to see him drive the net more often with the same purpose that Kasper does.

 

[RRhoads]

I haven't many GR games this season, and stats only played part of the story. An example of this is Kasper, as he was pretty good before he started putting up points.

 

[LongTimeDRWF]

Its also worth mentioning that Danielson is playing his first pro season while Kasper played an entire season of pro hockey in the SHL prior to the AHL.

The Griffins offense has been slowing down overall, I wouldn't dig too deep in to the numbers. As long as he is passing the eye test. I do think Danielson will need another season in the AHL to put it all together, but he is doing fine right now.

I am not concerned if Nate is playing well, like Elmer, who was playing well but not seeing the stat sheets much for most of the season until just before his callup, one day the switch will flip and the coaches will let SY he is ready...fighting through adversity on the stat sheet today may actually help him in the long run, better to struggle now and fix it the AHL level that go up to the wings and get sent back down...to fix things.

I will worry when the coaches become concerned...but let's do hope for sooner rather than later, but if we don't see Nate on the wings until sometime next year, but he is good and ready, so be it.