Observations:

October 2016 – The 2015-16 season saw a lot of ups and downs for Darnell Nurse. Nurse started the season in the AHL with Bakersfield but was called up to finish the season with the Oilers. Consistency played a big part in his ice time as some minor lapses in his judgement plagued his game, and seemed to show more at the NHL level. Towards the end of the year his confidence with the puck and reliability defensively improved noticably and Nurse began to show signs of why he was a seventh overall pick. This season he cracked the Oilers opening day line-up and has looked solid through the first six games, registering three points including a crucial insurance goal in the Heritage Classic game. The discussion about Nurse developing into a top four defenceman has once again returned in Edmonton. Brayden Sully

October 2015 – Nurse scored in his first game of the season against the Minnesota Wild on October 27th. He was recalled from Bakersfield after an injury to Justin Schultz and sub-par performances from Andrew Ference and Griffin Reinhart. This could be the final time Nurse shuttles back and forth from Bakersfield as the big club is desperate for one of their defensemen to step up and take on a bigger role successfully. Nurse is poised to do just that. Tyler Thomson

September 2015 – It appears Nurse will not be making the Oilers out of training camp and has been sent down to Bakesfield. This isn't a huge surprise but many thought he could potentially make the club after getting a one game stint last year. It will be highly probable to see him in NHL action at some point this season. Expect him to be on Bakersfield's top pair. Tyler Thomson

September 2015 – Nurse had a dominant showing at the Young Stars tournament in Penticton, BC. Many in the Oilers organization feel he could make the team out of camp. While it remains more realistic he starts the year in Bakersfield and is called up at points during the season, it's hard to deny Nurse's maturation and top-pairing skills. The player comparison that is used most frequently is Chris Pronger. Nurse might not be as physical as the potential future hall-of-famer but he certainly possesses the skating and puck moving ability to stay in the NHL for many years. A strong showing in the upcoming pre-season could very well be his ticket to a starting NHL job. Tyler Thomson

May 2015 – As if Nurse's 2014-2015 season wasn't impressive enough, he continued to play top-level hockey after being bounced in the OHL's Western Conference final. After losing to Connor McDavid and the Erie Otters, Nurse got into four AHL games with the Barons, registering four assists in four games. He also had four penalty minutes and was a plus three playing as a rookie in the AHL conference semi-finals. While the Barons were eliminated at the hands of the Utica Comets, Nurse was far and away the teams best player from the backend. Don't be the least bit surprised if he gets a long look at Oilers training camp next season. Tyler Thomson

March 2015 – Nurse got back into action for the Greyhounds last three games of the season. His final stat line in his last OHL regular season will read 10 goals and 33 points in 36 games. Playing for Canada and fighting a lingering injury, Nurse only appeared in half of the Greyhounds games. His team still finished first though and he will be heavily leaned upon now that the OHL playoffs are ready to begin. He will be the catalyst for a long playoff run this season. Tyler Thomson

March 2015 – Darnell Nurse has been hampered with a leg injury for the month of February but looks to return to action sometime before the OHL regular season is through. Nurse, who has 31 points in 33 games with Sault Saint Marie, was in Edmonton to get his leg double checked by Oilers team doctors. After a quick visit it was deemed he could potentially play by the end of the week ending March 8. With the Greyhounds sitting first in the OHL's Western Conference, a comfortable 10 points ahead of Connor McDavid and the Erie Otters, there is no rush for him to return. He will be the most important player for the Soo if they are to make a run at this year's CHL Memorial Cup in Quebec City. Tyler Thomson 

January 2015 – Nurse was named player of the game in the gold medal match against Russia at the World Juniors. In addition to this feat he was also named one of the top three players in the entire tournament. Nurse wasn't on the ice for a single even strength goal against despite eating up the most ice-time on team Canada. If Nurse wasn't on the radar as a future stud, he sure will be now. With the excellent progression and accomplishment, the Oilers will be hard pressed to keep him off the roster next season. Tyler Thomson

November 2014 – As Team OHL's captain for the Subway Super Series, Darnell Nurse recorded an assist in a 5-1 victory over Team Russia. After a 4-0 loss in which Nurse was even, the assist was encouraging as he both pushed the play offensively and made it tough for the skilled Russian forwards to get any traffic out front.Tyler Thomson

December 2014 – Nurse, to no one's surprise, has been invited to the final Team Canada roster selection camp for the World Junior Championships. The Sault Saint Marie Greyhounds captain has recorded 19 points in 19 games at this point in the OHL season, adding 34 penalty minutes with a plus-three. The Greyhounds are currently first place in the OHL`s West Division. Look for Nurse to be a stabilizing presence on Canada's blueline. Tyler Thomson

October 2014 – Sault Ste. Marie defenceman Darnell Nurse has been returned to the Greyhounds of the OHL. With a focus on his long-term development, Nurse will benefit from another year of competition at the OHL as his Greyhounds seek the OHL Championship. Nurse has been named to the OHL’s roster for the upcoming Subway® Super Series and will compete in both games on November 13^th and 17^th in Peterborough and Kingston, respectively. The rangy blueliner is essentially a lock to make Team Canada’s 2015 U20 World Junior roster. Brendan Ross

May 2014 – Defenseman Darnell Nurse was named to the OHL's 3rd All-Star Team joining Sam Bennett, Max Domi, Nick Baptiste, Matt Finn and Oscar Dansk. Nurse had a solid season in Sault Ste Marie tallying 13 goals and 50 points in 63 games to finish the regular season in the Top 10 of Defensive scoring. It's expected that Nurse will challenge for a roster spot on the 2014-15 Edmonton Oilers and with a summer of adding more strength, his chances are good. Brendan Ross

September 2013 – Noise around the Oilers' training camp has been generated by 1st round selection, Darnell Nurse, a defenseman with high potential who wasn't exactly suppose to make his NHL debut, just yet. However, Nurse has been playing phenomenal hockey throughout training camp and exhibition play with the Oilers that he's putting them into a difficult situation. His play has warranted an extended look which will likely result in him seeing some NHL regular season action. Nurse has displayed veteran-like poise, impressive agility and skating skills and is showing that he is further along in his development than most experts initially felt. With a log-jam on the blue line that has (likely) forced out top defensive prospect Oscar Klefbom, Nurse will likely be returned to the OHL to serve as Soo captain but nothing is for certain quite yet. Keep tabs on this high potential multi-cat defenseman. Brendan Ross

June 2013 – The Edmonton Oilers have selected Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defenseman, Darnell Nurse, with the 7th overall selection of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Nurse banged home 12 goals and 41 points, while sitting in the penalty box for 116 minutes last season in 68 games for the Greyhounds. Brendan Ross

February 2013 – Nurse entered his draft season as a player with immense pro potential and scouts were eager to see him tap some of that underlying talent. Fortunately, Nurse has done exactly that. The large smooth skating mobile defenseman has progressed with every shift this season. The biggest question mark in Nurse’s game was always his offensive potential and he displayed quickly that he does indeed have the offensive skills to become a threat in all 60-feet of the rink. His ability to play the game calmly under pressure makes him easy to project as a reliable responsible two-way defender. Large, mobile, physical defensemen with the ability to provide offense are highly coveted and, as a result, Nurse will be the target of many NHL teams. Brendan Ross

Fantasy Outlook: B+

Big, mobile, smooth skating defensemen that play on the edge are fantasy gold. Nurse has the ability to develop into a puck moving defenseman who can rack up the penalty minutes as well.

Footage:

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Darnell Nurse Statistics

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