Look at his time on ice. Deployment and situational play. He plays substantive defensive zone starts and competitive situational play for this team. Doesn't get the bump that playing with McDavid's dominating top line provides. I've posted those historic numbers for you before. Nurse isn't going anywhere and his salary isn't going to change. He's been pretty solid including bringing back his physical nasty style which adds another dimension. Every defenseman will make errors and bad reads in every game. Nature of this high speed collision sport.
It's a waste of energy wishing Nurse and his salary away.
Well..you and I have a different benchmark for solid.
Thats fine.
Nurse is a $9.25M damn...he should be playing against the other teams best players consistently.
He isnt because he cant handle it.
Watch the player. Watch how often the play dies on his stick in the O zone.
Watch him defend the rush.
Watch how he defends the cycle and what reads he defaults to.
Once you have done that...then watch Ekholm. Watch what he does with the puck on his stick in the O zone. Watch his reads in the D zone. All of that against the other teams best players.
The difference is obvious.
You're correct...the team is stuck with him and his bloated contract. That being said that doesnt mean we are compelled to watch the player wearing rose colored glasses.
