NHL: Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights - Source: Imagn
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse can be a polarizing player in the NHL. The 29-year-old has had plenty of ups and downs throughout his 11-year career. Though this is the case for almost every NHL player, because of the contract Nurse earned back in the summer of 2021, his game can be highly scrutinized.
Nurse's eight-year, $74 million contract has him as the eighth highest-paid defenseman in the league at $9.25 million per year. With that kind of contract comes a lot more pressure.
The physical blueliner has thrived to start this season, having recorded 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 31 games, along with 55 hits, 83 blocks, and a +11 rating. He's provided value for Edmonton in many aspects of the game.
Nurse spoke with Sportsnet recently about how his game feels amid his strong start to the 2024-2025 campaign.
