LD Darnell Nurse (2013, 7th, EDM)

[KidLine93]

So with Schultz returning to practice today, he will likely return game action soon. I hope they don't send Nurse back down to the AHL, but we will find out soon.

If Nurse gets sent down and Gryba remains in the lineup there is an issue

 

[Mark Kandy]

I can't believe Nurse isn't one of the six better defensemen right now (if not in the best three with Sekera & Klefbom!)... but Edmonton has shown some bad management too often and I bet they'll send him down.

 

[Fourier]

I can't believe Nurse isn't one of the six better defensemen right now (if not in the best three with Sekera & Klefbom!)... but Edmonton has shown some bad management too often and I bet they'll send him down.

IT's not really a case of bad management so much as it is a big log jam up front. They can't send Ference anywhere. They don't want to waive Davidson after investing so much time into his development and since he has played quite well. So once Schultz comes back they have 9 defensemen. Unless they can make a deal Nurse likely goes back to Bakersfield until someone else gets hurt, which based on the year so far should be the next game. The only other likely option is to send Reinhart down.

 

[misfit]

I like the Bouwmeester comparable quite a lot actually. Now, obviously Nurse is far more aggressive and has a physical game that Bouwmeester has never had, but the rest of their games are very similar.

Both players are world class skaters.
Both are great puck-movers, but not exactly top offensive defensemen.
Both excel defensively, and do so mainly by their ability to move the puck out of danger.
Identical height/weight measurables including both being LHS.

Bouwmeester might have the edge in production over the course of their respective careers, but that's probably going to be because he has been miscast as an offensive defenseman for so much of his career. Nurse won't be shoehorned into top PP units and such as J-Bo was for so long.

Bouwmeester has been one of the better defensive defensemen in the league for a while, but was always considered an offense-first type. Nurse will be recognized more for his defensive ability, but probably underrated as a puck-mover because of it.

And, of course, the nastiness/intimidation factor that Nurse brings is what really separates the two. If he ends up with the overall game that J-Bo has, then he'll have been a tremendous pick at #7OV.

 

[misfit]

IT's not really a case of bad management so much as it is a big log jam up front. They can't send Ference anywhere. They don't want to waive Davidson after investing so much time into his development and since he has played quite well. So once Schultz comes back they have 9 defensemen. Unless they can make a deal Nurse likely goes back to Bakersfield until someone else gets hurt, which based on the year so far should be the next game. The only other likely option is to send Reinhart down.

Nurse makes sense from a waivers/contract standpoint, but I think they've gone too far with him in the lineup and have too much of a responsibility to the team's 2015/16 competitiveness to send him back now.

If they didn't have the injury problems they've had this year, they would've preferred to keep him in Bakersfield until mid-season, but now that they've had their hand forced in that regard, he's a regular. Much like Klefbom's situation last year.

 

[Niet]

I can't believe Nurse isn't one of the six better defensemen right now (if not in the best three with Sekera & Klefbom!)... but Edmonton has shown some bad management too often and I bet they'll send him down.

"Oilers rush their players, bad management" "Oilers aren't putting their young guys in, bad management"

 

[Mark Kandy]

"Oilers rush their players, bad management" "Oilers aren't putting their young guys in, bad management"

It's not what I'm saying, I just fairly think Nurse belong to this team more than to Bakersfield. I mean, he has shown that he is NHL material and I think the best spot for him to improve right now is in the NHL.

 

[Sykie]

I like the Bouwmeester comparable quite a lot actually. Now, obviously Nurse is far more aggressive and has a physical game that Bouwmeester has never had, but the rest of their games are very similar.

Both players are world class skaters.
Both are great puck-movers, but not exactly top offensive defensemen.
Both excel defensively, and do so mainly by their ability to move the puck out of danger.
Identical height/weight measurables including both being LHS.

Bouwmeester might have the edge in production over the course of their respective careers, but that's probably going to be because he has been miscast as an offensive defenseman for so much of his career. Nurse won't be shoehorned into top PP units and such as J-Bo was for so long.

Bouwmeester has been one of the better defensive defensemen in the league for a while, but was always considered an offense-first type. Nurse will be recognized more for his defensive ability, but probably underrated as a puck-mover because of it.

And, of course, the nastiness/intimidation factor that Nurse brings is what really separates the two. If he ends up with the overall game that J-Bo has, then he'll have been a tremendous pick at #7OV.

Excellent analysis but as you said and even if that has been often forgotten, Bouwmeester really has been an elite shutdown defenseman for years (and he is still an excellent one). If Nurse becomes that good, then he really will have become a hell of a player. But that's really a high standard to achieve here.

 

[McMozesmadness]

I'd be fine with Nuse in the NHL or AHL. He has been good with the Oilers, but has made "young defencman" mistakes. He's arguably our #3 right now. But there is nothing wrong with him going down and mastering the AHL level. I look at Toronto and Nylander. He is easily good enough to play in the show. But they're keeping him down. Him dominating the AHL is doing nothing but good for him.

 

[LTIR]

So with Schultz returning to practice today, he will likely return game action soon. I hope they don't send Nurse back down to the AHL, but we will find out soon.

They have been sitting out Reinhart, Davidson, Fayne and Ference on some sort of rotation. Nurse is ahead of all of the above and shouldnt be seeing another minute of AHL.

 

[Fourier]

Nurse makes sense from a waivers/contract standpoint, but I think they've gone too far with him in the lineup and have too much of a responsibility to the team's 2015/16 competitiveness to send him back now.

If they didn't have the injury problems they've had this year, they would've preferred to keep him in Bakersfield until mid-season, but now that they've had their hand forced in that regard, he's a regular. Much like Klefbom's situation last year.

So do they run with 9 defensemen, send down Reinhart who has also been very good, or waive one of Gryba or Davidson. Gryba would get claimed almost for sure. Davidson probably does as well and then you lose your whole investment.

Ference is really handicapping this team right now. He can't really play anymore but he will occupy a roster spot simply because of his NMC.

Even if he goes down he'll probably still play a lot in the NHL this year since you can almost count on injuries to someone.

 

[Mark Kandy]

Finally, Reinhart got sent down, Ference healthy scratched all the time, Fayne went through the waivers, everything to leave a spot to Darnell Nurse who really deserved it.

Nurse is already a beast, Edmonton are so lucky to have him, I'm freakin' jealous!

And he had a huge game yesterday night against the Ducks, registering 23:04 of icetime, scoring a goal, finished the night with +2, 5 hits, 2 blockshots.

When people were arguing before the season starts on "Nurse isn't a top 20 prospects in the league", well I think we have the answer now!

 

[Aceboogie]

Finally, Reinhart got sent down, Ference healthy scratched all the time, Fayne went through the waivers, everything to leave a spot to Darnell Nurse who really deserved it.

Nurse is already a beast, Edmonton are so lucky to have him, I'm freakin' jealous!

And he had a huge game yesterday night against the Ducks, registering 23:04 of icetime, scoring a goal, finished the night with +2, 5 hits, 2 blockshots.

When people were arguing before the season starts on "Nurse isn't a top 20 prospects in the league", well I think we have the answer now!

Yup, hes really fit in well. Hes forsure had his rookie moments and is far from perfect. But hes also had his moments where you are shocked of how good he is and will become

And already as a rookie hes taking no prisons and getting in the face of top opponets. Im sure this isnt winning him any popularity contests around the league, but its had a noticeable impact on teammates.

I think by this time next year, fans will start to hate Nurse. Hes an intriguing prospect but he plays such a smash mouth game and will go after teams best guys. So I think fans will kind of hate him like they did with Pronger (Obligatory Nurse wont be Pronger)