Toggle sidebar

LD Darnell Nurse (2013, 7th, EDM)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mr Lahey*
  • Start date Start date
Only watched a bit of the game (3rd period) but man did he look good. Rang one off the post and McDavid wasn't given space to do anything when he was out there. This guy is exactly what the oilers need, solid guys in their own end.
 
His skating, grit, strength, and reach guarantees him to be a long time NHLer. But he is a long ways from being a top 4 NHL defenseman right now and while he should get there his hockey IQ isn't elite enough to guarantee anything.
 
Aerchon said:
His skating, grit, strength, and reach guarantees him to be a long time NHLer. But he is a long ways from being a top 4 NHL defenseman right now and while he should get there his hockey IQ isn't elite enough to guarantee anything.
Click to expand...

very true.

It is funny that his uncle was an all-star NFL player, because in the NFL there are always players that get drafted top 10 based on athleticism alone, and end up not being that good at the sport. So-called workout warriors.

I actually think Nurse is similar to a workout warrior (I am an oiler fan, fyi). His athleticism is out of this world. Seriously, who else is 6"5, will weigh >220 lbs, and can skate like the wind with his agility?

But based on his game right now, he doesn't have a good shot, is a mediocre play-maker, likely won't play on the top PP in the NHL, and at least in training camp last fall was still quite raw when it comes to D-zone coverage. With his speed, he just gets out of position quicker than other 20 year olds.

What we have is an absolute athletic stud with an amazing work ethic, but he is still a long way away from being a top 4 Dman.

I personally think he will get there and will be a huge part of the oilers for years, but he needs to be handled well. I think that means he should be in the AHL for all of next year to learn the pro game, but we'll see what management thinks next fall.
 
longy85 said:
very true.

It is funny that his uncle was an all-star NFL player, because in the NFL there are always players that get drafted top 10 based on athleticism alone, and end up not being that good at the sport. So-called workout warriors.

I actually think Nurse is similar to a workout warrior (I am an oiler fan, fyi). His athleticism is out of this world. Seriously, who else is 6"5, will weigh >220 lbs, and can skate like the wind with his agility?

But based on his game right now, he doesn't have a good shot, is a mediocre play-maker, likely won't play on the top PP in the NHL, and at least in training camp last fall was still quite raw when it comes to D-zone coverage. With his speed, he just gets out of position quicker than other 20 year olds.

What we have is an absolute athletic stud with an amazing work ethic, but he is still a long way away from being a top 4 Dman.

I personally think he will get there and will be a huge part of the oilers for years, but he needs to be handled well. I think that means he should be in the AHL for all of next year to learn the pro game, but we'll see what management thinks next fall.
Click to expand...

He was voted as the best defensive D in the OHL by coaches and had near PPG for offense

I agree hes raw offensively and needs a better shot, but I wouldnt question defensive hockey IQ
 
longy85 said:
very true.

It is funny that his uncle was an all-star NFL player, because in the NFL there are always players that get drafted top 10 based on athleticism alone, and end up not being that good at the sport. So-called workout warriors.

I actually think Nurse is similar to a workout warrior (I am an oiler fan, fyi). His athleticism is out of this world. Seriously, who else is 6"5, will weigh >220 lbs, and can skate like the wind with his agility?

But based on his game right now, he doesn't have a good shot, is a mediocre play-maker, likely won't play on the top PP in the NHL, and at least in training camp last fall was still quite raw when it comes to D-zone coverage. With his speed, he just gets out of position quicker than other 20 year olds.

What we have is an absolute athletic stud with an amazing work ethic, but he is still a long way away from being a top 4 Dman.

I personally think he will get there and will be a huge part of the oilers for years, but he needs to be handled well. I think that means he should be in the AHL for all of next year to learn the pro game, but we'll see what management thinks next fall.
Click to expand...

It was the preseason, and it was the Oilers, but Nurse looked like one of if not our best defenceman. He made mistakes but when he didn't, he looked spectacular. Watching him in this series playing 45 minutes a game against McDavid, I'd say he will be a good defenceman in the NHL.

As someone mentioned above, he was rated the best defensive defenceman in the league and is doing all he really can against a player who will be one of the best in the whole NHL as a rookie next year.

If he can work on his shot and offensive abilities more, he will be an absolute stud. Gigantic, mean, fast, strong. Guy seemingly has everything except a strong offensive ability.
 
What a sequence. Nurse breaks up a 3 on 2 with Mcdavid, leads the rush to the Otters zone. Forward gives puck away, Mcdavid gets it, toe drags and passes it off and a massive save by the goalie

Nurse continuing his dominant series.
 
topchowda said:
What a sequence. Nurse breaks up a 3 on 2 with Mcdavid, leads the rush to the Otters zone. Forward gives puck away, Mcdavid gets it, toe drags and passes it off and a massive save by the goalie

Nurse continuing his dominant series.
Click to expand...

Just took a dumb penalty that lead to the tying goal in the third period
 
Soundwave said:
Erie crowd booing Nurse every time he touches the puck. They've seen enough of him :laugh:
Click to expand...

Probaly because Mcdavid could break some records if Nurse was all over him this series :laugh:

edit: Just shuts down McDavid on a 1 on 1, takes puck up and creates a chance. This is what I imagine a prime Pronger vs prime Crosby battle would look like

Nurse has done nothing short of amaze me
 
Nurse is everywhere. Calmly shut down McDavid 1-on-1 on that rush. Carrying the puck with speed into the offensive zone, etc. etc. He's having a hell of a game.
 
Yeah, Nurse is an absolute beast. Holy ****. That penalty he took was a joke though. Not sure what the ref was thinking there.
 
He's a funny player, typically defensive dmen arn't nearly as athletic as Nurse. He doesn't have high end pick skills but his transition game is unreal. It's really hard to find a proper comparison for him and it's also hard to judge what kind of player he's going to fully bloom into.
 
PETRYDISH said:
He's a funny player, typically defensive dmen arn't nearly as athletic as Nurse. He doesn't have high end pick skills but his transition game is unreal. It's really hard to find a proper comparison for him and it's also hard to judge what kind of player he's going to fully bloom into.
Click to expand...

The way Doughty can drill someone into the boards then have the puck up the ice in the blink of an eye is similar to Nurse. However Nurses weakness is he has one trick over the blue line, drive it to the net and back hand it to the front. That is what he needs to improve on

But there was one play today where he was battling MCDavid, used his body and boxed him out, then stripped the puck (behind the net) and went end to end. I have seen Doughty do that a couple times (against the Oilers). But his athleticism is simply unmatched for recently drafted prospects
 
Some of the other teams posters must be sick and tired of hearing all this positive chat about Oiler prospects.

Excellent!
 
It's hard to imagine that McDavid and Nurse have already been, and are future teammates. Seems like Nurse's (and SSM's) entire defensive strategy revolves around Nurse being stuck to McDavid and others interfering with him.

That said, Nurse is doing a damn fine job at it, he will be a great NHLer one day.
 
McDavid's got what 13 points this series? And Nurse is almost ppg and +11 in the playoffs? That says a lot about him imo
 
I'd say Nurse is a cross between Myers and Bogosian.

He has the smooth, elite skating of a big defenseman like Myers but doesn't have as good as offense. Really good at joining the rush or leading it. But Nurse actually uses his size to punish people unlike Myers.

Thus Nurse also has the physicality and great defense like Bogosian. Likes to grind players into the wall. A player that forwards hate to play against. But Nurse is a much better skater than Bogosian.

All in all I think Nurse will become a 35ish point top pairing defenseman. I'm really excited to see him in Edmonton.
 
SabreOil said:
I'd say Nurse is a cross between Myers and Bogosian.

He has the smooth, elite skating of a big defenseman like Myers but doesn't have as good as offense. Really good at joining the rush or leading it. But Nurse actually uses his size to punish people unlike Myers.

Thus Nurse also has the physicality and great defense like Bogosian. Likes to grind players into the wall. A player that forwards hate to play against. But Nurse is a much better skater than Bogosian.

All in all I think Nurse will become a 35ish point top pairing defenseman. I'm really excited to see him in Edmonton.
Click to expand...

Bogo is a very good skater in his own right, and to be honest I wouldn't be surprised if Nurse turned out a lot like him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom