F Nate Danielson - Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL (2023, 9th, DET)

[ricky0034]

I don't quite understand what you're inferring here.

I can tell you that Brandon with Danielson would still have been stomped in the playoffs just as well. It's about how much better he's making Portland, one of the best teams in the league, and how much better of a team they are for him.

He's playing lights out for a contender and one win away from playing for a WHL championship and a legit shot at the Memorial Cup. What player wouldn't benefit from that opportunity directly before they turn pro?

This is why we are bumping his thread here and on the Wings board. Those that don't watch him play still seem to be on the same June 2023 "middle 6 ceiling" rhetoric 10 months later, as if to them he took no steps forward this year.

it's nice that he's doing well on a superteam in Portland and some prospects do need talent around them to bring out their best but it's possible to pump a guy up without also shitting on his previous team in every post to try and make it sound more impressive

it all just comes across as extremely hyperbolic and petty, Brandon is and was a pretty mediocre team but you'd think they were the worst team in the WHL going by any Danielson thread

 

[schuelma24]

it's nice that he's doing well on a superteam in Portland and some prospects do need talent around them to bring out their best but it's possible to pump a guy up without also shitting on his previous team in every post to try and make it sound more impressive

it all just comes across as extremely hyperbolic and petty, Brandon is and was a pretty mediocre team but you'd think they were the worst team in the WHL going by any Danielson thread

I don't think its hyperbolic or petty to accurately point out that Danielson is half a point a game better with Portland, especially when much of the discourse since he was drafted was literally just based on his point production.

 

[Petes2424]

it's nice that he's doing well on a superteam in Portland and some prospects do need talent around them to bring out their best but it's possible to pump a guy up without also shitting on his previous team in every post to try and make it sound more impressive

it all just comes across as extremely hyperbolic and petty, Brandon is and was a pretty mediocre team but you'd think they were the worst team in the WHL going by any Danielson thread

While certainly not the worst team, Danielson was almost being asked to play the entire 200’ every shift in Brandon, and not in the good way, as a 2 way player. Other than Elik, they just didn’t have anyone who could move the puck effectively. He was literally having to go get the puck half the time, and it’s not an exaggeration.

So a move was the best thing to help Danielson get anything out of this year, and it’s worked out about as perfect as anyone could’ve drawn it up.

Portland obviously was a great fit for him, because they had the dmen who can move the puck, and they also have players who “think” the game at a higher level than most of the kids in Brandon. Brandon has a great future coming real soon, but you can’t ignore what it’s been like recently. A lot like Ryder Ritchie went through this year in Prince Albert, and likely will again next season, if he’s not also traded. In fact, Ritchie will likely suffer too, heading into the draft this year, as Danielson did last. Don’t be surprised if he’s also drafted several picks higher than some think, for the same reasons Danielson was. Teams see what he’s been up against this year, much like Danielson was last.

As for Danielson, he’s still the best player on the ice with Portland every night, as he was with Brandon. He just has a lot more help, and he’s playing important games with a great team. Which is great for his development as a leader and a top player. The better the competition, the more he steps up. Nobody who watches the games can argue, that Danielson isn’t driving that ship right now.

Brandon has a lot of great days ahead, but it’s no secret what Nate Danielson was up against there. So while people shouldn’t be crapping all over Brandon, there’s a lot of truth to why Brandon was holding Danielson back. At least when it came to production.

 

[Roomba With a Bauer]

A lot of people here can't get over the fact that Detroit didn't take a winger in the draft and it's wild. The amount of hate on the Wings sub for Danielson and (especially) ASP not being Benson or Daliborsky is amazing.

There's a pretty decent chance that there will not be a single AHL or NHL level skater on that Brandon squad. After Danielson got traded, they went 13-20, including their first round sweep. They were well above .500 with him in the lineup.

Danielson isn't benefitting from a "superteam" because he isn't playing with Brandon's top players. He's enabled them to have an entirely new scoring line and he actually has wingers who don't treat the puck like a grenade. He IS benefitting from having defensemen who can actually make a breakout pass.

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

Caught his game last night and in my check ins on him this year I have come away impressed every time. Excellent work ethic, clever, uses his size well, generates his own opportunities. He is bare minimum an effective NHL 3rd liner right now IMO.

 

[Our Lady Peace]

A lot of people here can't get over the fact that Detroit didn't take a winger in the draft and it's wild. The amount of hate on the Wings sub for Danielson and (especially) ASP not being Benson or Daliborsky is amazing.

There's a pretty decent chance that there will not be a single AHL or NHL level skater on that Brandon squad. After Danielson got traded, they went 13-20, including their first round sweep. They were well above .500 with him in the lineup.

Danielson isn't benefitting from a "superteam" because he isn't playing with Brandon's top players. He's enabled them to have an entirely new scoring line and he actually has wingers who don't treat the puck like a grenade. He IS benefitting from having defensemen who can actually make a breakout pass.

I will say I think McQueen has a good shot to be an NHLer IMO and I know it's far out but Jacobson (2027 draft) also has good NHL potential too as it stands. Highly skilled.

Careful what you say about the Wheat Kings around here!

 

[touchnotthecat]

Caught his game last night and in my check ins on him this year I have come away impressed every time. Excellent work ethic, clever, uses his size well, generates his own opportunities. He is bare minimum an effective NHL 3rd liner right now IMO.

He was atrocious game 1 against the Cougars but I can attribute that to the 16 hour bus ride between Portland and Prince George. Even the best players in the world would struggle to show up after that trek.
He has been the most dangerous player on the ice ever since and his playmaking abilities are really shining. Game four in particular he was exposing the Cougars. Regularly drawing two or three defenders then hitting his open teammates with perfect passes. It was clinical.

 

[RedHawkDown]

Caught his game last night and in my check ins on him this year I have come away impressed every time. Excellent work ethic, clever, uses his size well, generates his own opportunities. He is bare minimum an effective NHL 3rd liner right now IMO.

Don’t let WarriorofTime see this.

 

[OldnotDeadWings]

There definitely was and still remains among Wings' fans a dismissal of Brandon's players as having held Danielson back. Truth is, his ES production in Portland for most of the regular season was the same as it had been in Brandon. It was Brandon's lack of PP talent that held back his point production and a much better PP was the main reason his production went up in Portland. It's also true that Danielson's willingness to do all the hard work in Brandon limited his production; a lot of energy spent without offensive reward. In Portland his completely unselfish mindset and defensive commitment also somewhat limits production, but he benefits from a D that makes life easier. More energy spent with the puck rather than trying to get it back.

We've seen Danielson raise his game in the playoffs vs. tougher competition, more assertive and tilting play on his own. Many games he looks like a young pro who has spent the season vs. men and come back to play vs. boys, showing them the difference. That elevation in his play is what people have to pay attention to in regards to what might be a higher ceiling than many had thought. Overall though IMO he is still more likely to end up getting Selke votes than having a 70-point NHL season. But we'll see. If he can do both, Wings have hit the jackpot with him.

 

[Christien]

Scored a beauty tonight, been unreal for Portland. Looks like he'll be a good one

 

[Hazy Little Thing]

Scored a beauty tonight, been unreal for Portland. Looks like he'll be a good one

What on earth was that goalie doing?

 

[Pavels Dog]

What on earth was that goalie doing?

Playing the initial shot opportunity, the second shot opportunity, and then unable to move into position for the 3rd shot opportunity?

 

[Vasilevskiy]

What on earth was that goalie doing?

My thoughts too, bad play. Too aggressive

 

[mrshootthepuck]

A lot of people here can't get over the fact that Detroit didn't take a winger in the draft and it's wild. The amount of hate on the Wings sub for Danielson and (especially) ASP not being Benson or Daliborsky is amazing.

There's a pretty decent chance that there will not be a single AHL or NHL level skater on that Brandon squad. After Danielson got traded, they went 13-20, including their first round sweep. They were well above .500 with him in the lineup.

Danielson isn't benefitting from a "superteam" because he isn't playing with Brandon's top players. He's enabled them to have an entirely new scoring line and he actually has wingers who don't treat the puck like a grenade. He IS benefitting from having defensemen who can actually make a breakout pass.

Charlie Elick and Roger McQueen will likely both be blue chip prospects in NHL systems, not to mention Bjarnason in net. I get what you're saying but it's not like Brandon was devoid of quality players/talent. They just lacked depth.

 

[Dotter]

Sick goal by Danielson. He looks like he's going to be an impact centerman in the NHL.

 

[newfy]

Checking in on Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson

Let's look at some video with talk to a reporter that covers Portland.

www.shapshotshockey.com

Winterhawks writer saying hes the best junior passer Danielson has seen since Cody Glass. Lots of other good info in there too

 

[cjeagle]

Danielson is set to join the Griffins as they continue their march through the Calder Cup Playoffs, where they hold a 1-0 series in their best-of-five Central Division Finals series against the Milwaukee Admirals.


Game two of that series will be Monday night in Milwaukee, and per GR coach Dan Watson, it could become Danielson's professional debut, saying,“He’s an option [for Game 2]. Obviously, he finished the other night, traveled back and now he’s going to travel here. We’ll talk to him, see how he’s feeling…See if he can be up to speed with us, but he’s certainly a good option for us for the lineup.”

Watson added of Danielson, “I got to see him through Red Wings Training Camp. Smart player. He thinks the game extremely well. He’s a smooth skater. He does have good skill.”

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Slow start in the A this year. Anyone have thoughts on his performances in GR?

 

[Our Lady Peace]

Slow start in the A this year. Anyone have thoughts on his performances in GR?

Started a few games off the bat getting the feel for the pace. Last ~7 games he's been showing flashes of the offensive skill/pace and seeing the ice like he was last season. I've been happy to see he's already been weaving around nicely with the puck finding soft spots in the high danger areas to attack or distribute

Been centering line 2 with some revolving pair of Soderblom/Watson/Hanas/Rychlovsky. I liked the Hanas-Danielson-Watson line for what it's worth. Mainly due to Watson having at least NHL level IQ and those types of players will naturally thrive with a calculated player like Danielson

He's still great defensively as the anticipation + takeaway ability contributes to him taking the puck the other way often. That's gonna be a valuable trait because of his speed threat. He's been playing PK of course

Been getting reps as the PP1 QB over the past number of games as well. Coaching staff understands that a guy like him just needs to refine the offensive raw-ness. Things like firing his tape-to-tape passes through seams and stuff on the regular will come

I do think he's gonna start to show results in terms of numbers as the season goes on. Grand Rapids is 25th ranked in goals for, but are tied for 2nd in lowest goals against

 

[EXTRAS]

Haven't been a fan of him this year. Don't see the upside.

 

[TLEH]

Just made an unreal play on the PP that led to a goal.

 

[Pavels Dog]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1856752583332737401

https://x.com/i/web/status/1856749881034985525

https://x.com/i/web/status/1856746918602575950