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LD Darnell Nurse (2013, 7th, EDM)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mr Lahey*
  • Start date Start date
puckfan13 said:
Honestly there isn't a defenseman in the league with these physical tools. I can totally see him not even putting up over 25 pts for the first 3 or 4 years he is in the league. At some point there's gonna be questions, people saying wow this guy has all the tools why hasn't he put it together yet, we see it in flashes but never over a whole season, how can Edmonton depend on this guy he's not a cornerstone piece, just a physically gifted player with a 10-cent brain. But the truth of the matter is he's not even close to being fully developed and expecting him to hit the ground running like we've seen a lot of guys do lately is setting him up to fail.

He's going to have to learn how to read the game at the NHL level and pick his spots and feel his way around the game instead of going pedal to the metal all the time like he can do in junior. The only way to do that is to play NHL games - lots of them, not 25 or 50, hundreds probably. He's also going to have to grow into his body, he's only just turned 20, born in 1995, there is players coming out of the NFL draft today that are born in 1991. Not the same sport, but to be at that same stage of physical development he'd be in his 4th year in the NHL. He's not even close to being done developing physically, and it's going to come at the price of an adjustment period on the job in the NHL. He's going to give the puck away for some gross goals, he's going to get caught pinching and give up rushes, he's going to be too over-aggressive and probably end up getting suspended a couple times. It's probably even going to end up directly costing the team a game or two in the process because of over-zealousness.

I can see him hitting a peak in his 3rd or 4th year in the league and continuing to rise and become even more fearsome as he learns the old-man tricks once he's reconciled his physical tools with his mind for the game, it isn't going to come instantly, he's not coming out of junior as a polished Picasso but his physical gifts and skills along with his intensity and body type are a scary, scary combination. There's elements of his defensive game that resemble only things Chara can do in this league. He's probably not going to win a Norris but player's are going to be uncomfortable and thinking twice facing him every night. Rushing the puck occasionally when it's a good time to, advancing the puck quickly with short simple plays and getting shots through to the net - that's all he has to do offensively, he doesn't have to be Doughty or Subban or Karlsson or Keith at his size with his physical package.

There's going to be moments and he's going to go through multiple cycles of hype, backlash, post-hype success cycles. He's in a glaring market in what is going to be one of the most heavily covered teams in recent memory - there's mistakes to be made on the job, the spotlight's going to burn on him when he makes those mistakes, but it's the only place he can learn. If you stick it out with this guy you're gonna reap all the rewards, and there will be many. High, high-end character and grit. I'll take my odds with this one.
Click to expand...

Excellent analogy!
 
I really think he would benefit from a full year in the AHL.

He's so physically above his per group right now that he does basically whatever he wants. I'd like to see him continue to add strength while working on his decision-making and positioning before going to Edmonton.

I'm not saying his decision-making or positioning is bad per see, just that it could use some fine-tuning still.
 
puckfan13 said:
Honestly there isn't a defenseman in the league with these physical tools. I can totally see him not even putting up over 25 pts for the first 3 or 4 years he is in the league. At some point there's gonna be questions, people saying wow this guy has all the tools why hasn't he put it together yet, we see it in flashes but never over a whole season, how can Edmonton depend on this guy he's not a cornerstone piece, just a physically gifted player with a 10-cent brain. But the truth of the matter is he's not even close to being fully developed and expecting him to hit the ground running like we've seen a lot of guys do lately is setting him up to fail.

He's going to have to learn how to read the game at the NHL level and pick his spots and feel his way around the game instead of going pedal to the metal all the time like he can do in junior. The only way to do that is to play NHL games - lots of them, not 25 or 50, hundreds probably. He's also going to have to grow into his body, he's only just turned 20, born in 1995, there is players coming out of the NFL draft today that are born in 1991. Not the same sport, but to be at that same stage of physical development he'd be in his 4th year in the NHL. He's not even close to being done developing physically, and it's going to come at the price of an adjustment period on the job in the NHL. He's going to give the puck away for some gross goals, he's going to get caught pinching and give up rushes, he's going to be too over-aggressive and probably end up getting suspended a couple times. It's probably even going to end up directly costing the team a game or two in the process because of over-zealousness.

I can see him hitting a peak in his 3rd or 4th year in the league and continuing to rise and become even more fearsome as he learns the old-man tricks once he's reconciled his physical tools with his mind for the game, it isn't going to come instantly, he's not coming out of junior as a polished Picasso but his physical gifts and skills along with his intensity and body type are a scary, scary combination. There's elements of his defensive game that resemble only things Chara can do in this league. He's probably not going to win a Norris but player's are going to be uncomfortable and thinking twice facing him every night. Rushing the puck occasionally when it's a good time to, advancing the puck quickly with short simple plays and getting shots through to the net - that's all he has to do offensively, he doesn't have to be Doughty or Subban or Karlsson or Keith at his size with his physical package.

There's going to be moments and he's going to go through multiple cycles of hype, backlash, post-hype success cycles. He's in a glaring market in what is going to be one of the most heavily covered teams in recent memory - there's mistakes to be made on the job, the spotlight's going to burn on him when he makes those mistakes, but it's the only place he can learn. If you stick it out with this guy you're gonna reap all the rewards, and there will be many. High, high-end character and grit. I'll take my odds with this one.
Click to expand...

Excellent post.
 
DisgruntledGoat said:
I really think he would benefit from a full year in the AHL.

He's so physically above his per group right now that he does basically whatever he wants. I'd like to see him continue to add strength while working on his decision-making and positioning before going to Edmonton.

I'm not saying his decision-making or positioning is bad per see, just that it could use some fine-tuning still.
Click to expand...

It absolutely could. He relies a lot on skating in the OHL, but makes some rushes that shouldn't be made simply because he can outskate everyone there and back. Ahl will show him what rushes shouldn't be made. Decision making in terms of that needs a boost
 
DisgruntledGoat said:
I really think he would benefit from a full year in the AHL.

He's so physically above his per group right now that he does basically whatever he wants. I'd like to see him continue to add strength while working on his decision-making and positioning before going to Edmonton.

I'm not saying his decision-making or positioning is bad per see, just that it could use some fine-tuning still.
Click to expand...

Would love to see SSM knocked out today and have Nurse join the Barons for what is hopefully a deep Calder Cup run. 10+ AHL playoff games would be a fine evaluation tool and learning experience.
 
Roof Daddy said:
Would love to see SSM knocked out today and have Nurse join the Barons for what is hopefully a deep Calder Cup run. 10+ AHL playoff games would be a fine evaluation tool and learning experience.
Click to expand...

I want to see him win the Memorial Cup.
 
topchowda said:
It absolutely could. He relies a lot on skating in the OHL, but makes some rushes that shouldn't be made simply because he can outskate everyone there and back. Ahl will show him what rushes shouldn't be made. Decision making in terms of that needs a boost
Click to expand...

Well said.

Defensively too, there's been times when his skating and size have masked being a little out of position or reading the rush incorrectly.

I'd hate to see his confidence crushed by getting burned multiple times a game by bigger, faster NHLers.
 
He needs to stick to playing defense, especially with deangelo back in the lineup... just play to your strengths
 
puckfan13 said:
Honestly there isn't a defenseman in the league with these physical tools. I can totally see him not even putting up over 25 pts for the first 3 or 4 years he is in the league. At some point there's gonna be questions, people saying wow this guy has all the tools why hasn't he put it together yet, we see it in flashes but never over a whole season, how can Edmonton depend on this guy he's not a cornerstone piece, just a physically gifted player with a 10-cent brain. But the truth of the matter is he's not even close to being fully developed and expecting him to hit the ground running like we've seen a lot of guys do lately is setting him up to fail.

He's going to have to learn how to read the game at the NHL level and pick his spots and feel his way around the game instead of going pedal to the metal all the time like he can do in junior. The only way to do that is to play NHL games - lots of them, not 25 or 50, hundreds probably. He's also going to have to grow into his body, he's only just turned 20, born in 1995, there is players coming out of the NFL draft today that are born in 1991. Not the same sport, but to be at that same stage of physical development he'd be in his 4th year in the NHL. He's not even close to being done developing physically, and it's going to come at the price of an adjustment period on the job in the NHL. He's going to give the puck away for some gross goals, he's going to get caught pinching and give up rushes, he's going to be too over-aggressive and probably end up getting suspended a couple times. It's probably even going to end up directly costing the team a game or two in the process because of over-zealousness.

I can see him hitting a peak in his 3rd or 4th year in the league and continuing to rise and become even more fearsome as he learns the old-man tricks once he's reconciled his physical tools with his mind for the game, it isn't going to come instantly, he's not coming out of junior as a polished Picasso but his physical gifts and skills along with his intensity and body type are a scary, scary combination. There's elements of his defensive game that resemble only things Chara can do in this league. He's probably not going to win a Norris but player's are going to be uncomfortable and thinking twice facing him every night. Rushing the puck occasionally when it's a good time to, advancing the puck quickly with short simple plays and getting shots through to the net - that's all he has to do offensively, he doesn't have to be Doughty or Subban or Karlsson or Keith at his size with his physical package.

There's going to be moments and he's going to go through multiple cycles of hype, backlash, post-hype success cycles. He's in a glaring market in what is going to be one of the most heavily covered teams in recent memory - there's mistakes to be made on the job, the spotlight's going to burn on him when he makes those mistakes, but it's the only place he can learn. If you stick it out with this guy you're gonna reap all the rewards, and there will be many. High, high-end character and grit. I'll take my odds with this one.
Click to expand...

A+ posts. I look forward to reading more of your assessments.
 
Nurse was a beast this game. If it wasn't for Mcgodmode he would have been the best player on the ice. That one PK for sure stood out where he brought it up twice on his own. He rarely loses battles and he has a huge teach. His shot does need work but his knuckleball got them a PP goal.

Sky's the limit for this kid. I think he will be as good as he wants to be.
 
I still see his ceiling as a good #2 but if the oilers can manage him right over time he could be a #1. Needs to work on his decision making.
 
bsmith14 said:
I still see his ceiling as a good #2 but if the oilers can manage him right over time he could be a #1. Needs to work on his decision making.
Click to expand...

A good #2 would be excellent I think. And a realistic ceiling to project too. He needs to work on his offensive decision making most I think, but his defensive zone awareness seems to be absolutely top notch from what I watched against Eerie and in the WJC.
 
3 points tonight in the AHL playoffs with 2 drawn penalties. This kid is going to make a case for the big club in the fall.
 
Nurse, Draisaitl and of coarse McDavid all looking fantastic. Add in Todd Mclellan to the current core and Edmonton may actually have a half decent future ahead of them.
 
40oz said:
The fake on the second assist was filthy. Wish there was another camera angle for that.
Click to expand...

I had to watch it twice because even I was fooled. Thought the puck was going around the boards :laugh:
 
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