I don't really understand why everyone hates him. This was by far his worst year out of the last four, and he was really good the other three. I get the contract thing, but until this season he's been a physical player with solid metrics and good even strength scoring, has he not? Just feels like everyone thinks he doesn't give a shit, when I don't feel like we've had any indication that he's that type of person or player. I doubt McDavid and Draisaitl would have any time for him if that was the case, and by all accounts they seem to really like him.
At 5-on-5, his 5-on-5 goal differential at even-strength in key playoff series the last three years:
2022 vs Colorado: 3 GF-9 GA (-6, worst on the team)
2023 vs Vegas: 2 GF- 7GA (-5, second worst on the team. Worst was Ceci at 1-8)
2024 vs Vancouver: 3 GF- 10 GA (-7, worst on the team by a wide margin)
2024 vs Dallas: 3 GF- 7 GA (-4, second worst on the team)
Funnily enough, he was 5-4 against Florida, which is probably the best series he's played the last three years.
I don't hate Darnell. On a personal level, I actually quite like him. But I do feel like he is a player that good teams have exposed the last few years. He really struggles to make decisions with the puck quickly, and there are long stretches where we're pinned in our zone while he's on the ice. Pre-Ekholm, Nurse got a lot of tough matchups, but also played with McDavid more. That helped alleviate some of the pressure, because McDavid is the best transition player in the league (arguably in the history of the game). Since the Ekholm addition, Nurse is playing more second and third line opposition, but he's also playing less with McDavid. He fairs well against weaker teams, but against stronger teams with solid second and third lines, he has been exposed. In a cap world, a $9.25 million defenceman on your second pairing should be a luxury that helps you dominate the middle six minutes. Yet the last few years, the middle six at even strength has been an area that opposing teams try to dominate us. Nurse has been a big part of that, and we're now talking about how we find a partner to insulate him. In the short term, his contract is manageable because of Bouchard's value. In another year, Bouchard is probably making 10, and we've got a real problem affording both.
Again, I don't hate Nurse, I just think his performance relative to contract is a pretty obvious impediment. If he were playing in Vegas, McCrimmon would be jumping through hoops to try and get out from under that contract. If the Oilers are able to make that move, it will be huge for our ability to remain competitive.
