Wayne Gretzky shares advice for Darnell Nurse to get out of his ‘panic mode’
Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky has shared some advice for Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse to help him handle the pressure and come out of his ‘panic mode’ in the postseason.
Nurse has been facing challenges as he has been on the ice for more goals at five-on-five compared to other defensemen, which has put him under the spotlight. His underwhelming performance in Game 3, where he was involved in two crucial goals scored by the Dallas Stars, has intensified the criticism surrounding his play during the playoffs.
Wayne Gretzky has advised Nurse to simply his game and focus on what he does best as a defenseman:
“He just has to simplify his game, and sometimes what happens with professional athletes you try to do too much, and Darnell is a solid stay-at-home defenseman. Move the puck, take the body, and stay at home, and if he does that, he’s gonna be fine,” Gretzky said.
Gretzky reckoned that Darnell Nurse appears to be in a bit of a panic mode currently. He emphasized the importance of the 29-year-old defenseman for playing his game, and if he doesn’t step up and perform as expected, it could create some challenges for the team going forward:
“But right now he seems to be a little bit of a panic mode, but they need him to be Darnell Nurse because if he’s not going on Nurse, you know they’re in trouble a little bit because they got a young kid who’s up there with them, so they’re gonna need Darnell. Just play your game,” Gretzky added.
Nurse has two points from as many assists in 15 games and a plus/minus rating of -12 in 15 playoff games. He signed an eight-year, $74,000,000 contract with the Oilers in 2021 and has a cap hit of $9,250,000.
Connor McDavid defends Darnell Nurse amid struggles
Ahead of the Edmonton Oilers Game 4 clash against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday, Connor McDavid spoke about Darnell Nurse’s post-season struggles.
The Oilers captain emphasized how important Nurse is to the team. He said that regardless of his underwhelming stats, Nurse always gives his best effort and has played a significant role in the team over a longer period.
Here is what McDavid said of Darnell Nurse ahead of Game 4 (via Oilersnation):
“He’s a big piece of our room,” McDavid said. “Plus-minus, whatever, I know it’s a funny stat, but he gives us everything he’s got, and he always has for a long time. Like I said, he’s a big part of our room, and I’d expect him to have a big one tonight.”
The Dallas Stars lead the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in their Western Conference final series.
News
There are comments that: Telling a woman off for wearing too much makeup doesn’t exactly seem how a ‘defender of women’ would normally act.
Credit: J.K. Rowling, Lumos British Author J.K. Rowling is once again risking the rights of the Harry Potter franchise and prison time, voicing her divisive opinions following a lawsuit that has taken the world by storm. Millions of fans worldwide have…
JK Rowling’s involvement in HBO’s new Harry Potter series is causing significant problems
J.K. Rowling May Face Casting Challenges for Harry Potter Reboot Due to Transphobic Stances J.K. Rowling May Face Casting Challenges for Harry Potter Reboot Due to Transphobic Stances The upcoming Harry Potter series for HBO is once again in jeopardy, and this…
Ed Sheeran is Billboard’s pick for the No. 24 Greatest Pop Star of the 21st century.
Billboard’s Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century: No. 24 — Ed Sheeran With the first quarter of the 21st century coming to a close, Billboard is spending the next few months counting down our staff picks for the 25 greatest pop stars…
I was buzzing when Ed Sheeran said I’m his favourite player…now I’m out to impress him with my first Premier League goal
Chaplin speaks to one Brighton star every day FOR Conor Chaplin the mission is clear — delight his family, impress Ed Sheeran and ruin his best friend’s day. And if Sheeran’s favourite player can score his first Premier League goal in the…
Eminem and Snoop Dogg’s Special Friendship: The Bonding Moments Behind the Songs
In the world of hip-hop, few names command as much respect as Eminem and Snoop Dogg. These two rap legends have defined different eras of the genre, leaving an indelible mark on both the industry and their fans. But beyond…
End of content
No more pages to load