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

[Preposterone]

It’s a massive win if Danielson has finally realized how f***ing nasty he is

 

[Sticktape]

Is Danielson a physical player?

 

[Petes2424]

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

He’s about where you expect a young player in his first pro season. 8 points in 15 games. They usually start hitting their stride around Xmas time, and after a slow start, he’s been heavily involved in the last couple of weeks.

Playing C in the AHL isn’t like junior hockey. There’s an adjustment all kids have to make and it usually happens 20-50 games in.

If he were stuck on a wing, or down the depth chart, it might be something worth noting, but he’s gonna be just fine. Not many junior eligible players are playing top, important minutes in the AHL. That’s a lot of responsibilities for a kid.

 

[Our Lady Peace]

Is Danielson a physical player?

Not a bruiser by any means, but he definitely can be physical. He's physical in the corners as he's that pain-in-the-ass kind to play against

He will throw hits out there as he's a pretty firey kid. He also already had a fight in like his 3rd game this season

E.g ; must've been pissed lol

https://x.com/i/web/status/1857595882381705224

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Interested to see how Danielson does the rest of the year. Has been cold, then extremely hot, then a bit cold, but still projects well moving forward.

 

[schuelma24]

Interested to see how Danielson does the rest of the year. Has been cold, then extremely hot, then a bit cold, but still projects well moving forward.

He's been very solid in GR and showing a lot of playmaking, but definitely needs to shoot the puck more.

 

[Kingpin794]

Interested to see how Danielson does the rest of the year. Has been cold, then extremely hot, then a bit cold, but still projects well moving forward.

Most nights I don't even know he's out there. Then he'll pop up with a random assist from time to time. Even on those plays, I don't notice him often. Idk. Him and Kasper are in the same boat. They might end up being perfectly fine 3rd liners but that isn't what top 10 picks should be. I would rather the Wings take swings on skill players in the top ten. If they bust, you can still get that 3rd liner in FA no problem.

 

[qc14]

Most nights I don't even know he's out there. Then he'll pop up with a random assist from time to time. Even on those plays, I don't notice him often. Idk. Him and Kasper are in the same boat. They might end up being perfectly fine 3rd liners but that isn't what top 10 picks should be. I would rather the Wings take swings on skill players in the top ten. If they bust, you can still get that 3rd liner in FA no problem.

Yep a projected 40 points in 70 AHL games is certainly good for a rookie but it's not amazing either which is a pretty direct continuation of his junior career. Seems like one of those guys where the tools will always be more tantalizing than the actual output

 

[newfy]

Yep a projected 40 points in 70 AHL games is certainly good for a rookie but it's not amazing either which is a pretty direct continuation of his junior career. Seems like one of those guys where the tools will always be more tantalizing than the actual output

Yeah, you would love to see him being a point per game player as a rookie but as a late bday he's still pretty young for the AHL. Born 2 weeks earlier and he's still in junior right now.

He's great defensively and a great puck possession player already. To put the production into context a little more though, even if its been "disappointing"... he's 5 points out of the team lead. The Griffins might be the best team in the AHL, he's playing a big role, and he's close to the team lead in points.

Its a solid but not blow your socks off start to his pro career so far

 

[Michael Brand Eggs]

Interested to see how Danielson does the rest of the year. Has been cold, then extremely hot, then a bit cold, but still projects well moving forward.

This describes the entire team, though. They've been pretty streaky, especially when it comes to scoring

But also, I'm not sure you you can judge any rookie based on the first half of their season in a new league. That second half is usually a lot better.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Yeah, you would love to see him being a point per game player as a rookie but as a late bday he's still pretty young for the AHL. Born 2 weeks earlier and he's still in junior right now.

He's great defensively and a great puck possession player already. To put the production into context a little more though, even if its been "disappointing"... he's 5 points out of the team lead. The Griffins might be the best team in the AHL, he's playing a big role, and he's close to the team lead in points.

Its a solid but not blow your socks off start to his pro career so far

That's not how the birthday thing works. Danielson is a late 2004, thus wasn't eligible for the 2022 Draft and first time draft eligible for the 2023 Draft. If he's born 2 weeks earlier, he's draft eligible in 2022 and this is his 1st year in the A anyway. To not be eligible for the A, he would have had to been born in 2005. All 2004s are eligible for the A in 2024-25 because they turn 20 in the 2024 calendar year.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

Yep a projected 40 points in 70 AHL games is certainly good for a rookie but it's not amazing either which is a pretty direct continuation of his junior career. Seems like one of those guys where the tools will always be more tantalizing than the actual output

Yeah but it's kinda hard to tell with him. Does he have low offensive potential or does he just focus on playing a "Safe" game.

Because when he got traded from Brandon to Portland and the weight of the world wasn't on his shoulders anymore, he was allowed to be a bit more "Free" offensively.

EDIT: Worth adding, and I'm not trying to make a comparison here, but Seider's offensive potential was considered nothing in the DEL because he had to play a safe, defense only game. So is Danielson mediocre offensively, or, like Seider, does he just adapt his game for what the team needs and the coach wants?

 

[wetcoast]

That's not how the birthday thing works. Danielson is a late 2004, thus wasn't eligible for the 2022 Draft and first time draft eligible for the 2023 Draft. If he's born 2 weeks earlier, he's draft eligible in 2022 and this is his 1st year in the A anyway. To not be eligible for the A, he would have had to been born in 2005. All 2004s are eligible for the A in 2024-25 because they turn 20 in the 2024 calendar year.

Exactly the other guy had it bass akwards.

Still a good prospect but it seems like detroit likes to pick these safe high floor 2 way guys at the expensive of pure skill and a possible HR guy but maybe that's just a perception.

 

[schuelma24]

Most nights I don't even know he's out there. Then he'll pop up with a random assist from time to time. Even on those plays, I don't notice him often. Idk. Him and Kasper are in the same boat. They might end up being perfectly fine 3rd liners but that isn't what top 10 picks should be. I would rather the Wings take swings on skill players in the top ten. If they bust, you can still get that 3rd liner in FA no problem.

He's been plenty noticeable when I've watched him, even if he hasn't always filled up the stat sheet. Very well rounded game playing top minutes for one of the best teams in the league. I do think he needs to be more assertive on offense and I think that will come. Griffins are one of the best defensive teams in the league and he's a big reason why.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Exactly the other guy had it bass akwards.

Still a good prospect but it seems like detroit likes to pick these safe high floor 2 way guys at the expensive of pure skill and a possible HR guy but maybe that's just a perception.

I would say it’s perception only at this point.

 

[wetcoast]

I would say it’s perception only at this point.

I dunno, their last 3 top forwards picks are all the same type of 2 way players with good solid floors, the last guy at forward they picked with a dynamic skillset was Raymond.

To be fair ASP is a HR type of pick though.

 

[newfy]

Exactly the other guy had it bass akwards.

Still a good prospect but it seems like detroit likes to pick these safe high floor 2 way guys at the expensive of pure skill and a possible HR guy but maybe that's just a perception.

Its not completely bass ackwards though, my phrasing might have been poor to get the point across. You're a late bday so you're a little behind developmentally from your age group, you play one season in junior post draft before you go pro. So if he's born 2 weeks earlier he has 3 NHL training camps under his belt instead of 2, he has a full year with a pro team helping with his development, nutritionists, work out plans all that stuff. Has probably got some extra preseason games etc. It all adds up, a late bday guy is at more of a disadvantage right when they're turning pro... how big that disadvantage is is up for debate.

Not sure I completely agree that Detroit is just drafting safe, high floor guys though, that's more of just fan perception. Seider got that tag and he's their best pick. Around Danielson in the draft, I wouldn't really call anyone in the next 5 or 6 picks as much higher ceiling except Benson and he's a 5'9 winger.

Kaspers draft was the same thing. You have Savoie who is a tiny winger I guess who is higher "pure skill" guy but I like Kaspers chances of becoming better. The next 6 or so picks there's not these crazy high upside guys.

Edvinsson was the big high risk high reward guy in his draft and that looks like its going to turn out well. Raymond was in the same boat. Higher risk, higher reward type guys.

I would just say the wings draft whoever they think at the pick is going to help the team the most. I don't think the wings having Savoie instead of Kasper makes their long term outlook any better. Don't think having Benson instead of Kasper changes a whole lot either. But the really safe pick in Seider is a home run, and the high risk picks in Raymond and Edvinsson look good too. To me, they have a mix of risk levels and reward levels but they're picking who they think makes them better

 

[Our Lady Peace]

Danielson will likely never be a player that other fanbases appreciate until he hits the 60 point mark in the NHL. Detroit fans understand this. He's being used as an all-situations 1C in Grand Rapids and doing great as a 20 year old

Danielson's most remotely NHL-level offensive support right now is Austin Watson. Mazur has only played 3 games and Lombardi has missed the last ~12 games. Everyone else finishes plays, but doesn't create very well. Danielson leads the team in assists (with Watson) and he honestly could have had a handful more. He's been creating lots of offense and they're more often than not based off high percentage plays that he's seeing

My qualm with him has been his unselfishness with shooting the puck. He's got a good shot and can get it off in a myriad of ways, so use it! Last 3 games he's been doing just that and should've had a goal or two last game getting to the high danger shooting areas. He really needs that monkey off his back

 

[raymond23]

I think he's doing just fine

1C for one of the best teams in the AHL

Been on a cold stretch recently but hopefully the shooting trend continues

 

[Hockeyville USA]

I think he's doing just fine

1C for one of the best teams in the AHL

Been on a cold stretch recently but hopefully the shooting trend continues

He's doing fine, actually pretty well when you look at the overall picture, it's more that you'd want the offense to be more consistent. Otherwise, he grades out at probably an A- or B+ overall impact as a 20 year old rookie.

 

[Pavels Dog]

I dunno, their last 3 top forwards picks are all the same type of 2 way players with good solid floors, the last guy at forward they picked with a dynamic skillset was Raymond.

I think that's pretty surface level though. They're all fairly different .
That said I do think they valued the premium positions of Kasper and Danielson over many of the guys available that might have had more obvious dynamic offense but projected as wingers or had/have glaring flaws in their game.

 

[Vasilevskiy]

He was always touted to be a good #2C and that's what his development is indicating he will be so far

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Interested to see how Danielson does the rest of the year. Has been cold, then extremely hot, then a bit cold, but still projects well moving forward.

That’s the Griff’s in general. They had a lot of injuries in November and December. Danielson has looked good even when not producing.

 

[Dotter]

When I went to watch the Griffins he was very noticeable. You can see his offensive tools at work, vision and hockey IQ... and tenacity. He seems to be a coaches dream. I don't think they are asking him to be a huge offensive impact right now.

I've watched periods where he takes over games and becomes a beast. As a 20 year old rookie that shows what he's capable of. Those are the signs you look for when evaluating talent. You hope consistency comes, but with a player like him, it most likely certainly will.

I'd be pleased if he became a PIA to play against 60 point second line center in the NHL someday, or an elite 3rd line center.

A Ryan Kesler -type impact player would be a win.