WWYDW: Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba
7 years ago
There aren’t a lot of stories of particular interest in the
NHL right now, but one item worth watching is negotiations between the league’s
remaining restricted free agents and their major-league teams. Several
prominent players—people like Johnny Gaudreau, Hampus Lindholm and Rasmus Ristolainen—remain
unsigned and it’s fair to be worried about whether deals will be done by the
start of training camp.
NHL right now, but one item worth watching is negotiations between the league’s
remaining restricted free agents and their major-league teams. Several
prominent players—people like Johnny Gaudreau, Hampus Lindholm and Rasmus Ristolainen—remain
unsigned and it’s fair to be worried about whether deals will be done by the
start of training camp.
One such player is Jacob Trouba, a brilliant right-shot
defenceman with the Winnipeg Jets. In this week’s edition of What Would You Do
Wednesday, we ask our readers whether they’d be willing to trade Darnell Nurse
as part of a package to acquire that player.
defenceman with the Winnipeg Jets. In this week’s edition of What Would You Do
Wednesday, we ask our readers whether they’d be willing to trade Darnell Nurse
as part of a package to acquire that player.
About Trouba
Trouba is an excellent player. I wrote about him back in May
when his name was being bandied about the rumour mill and concluded at the time
that he’d be a fantastic fit for the Oilers. His underlying numbers are very
good, and he shows well by the eye-test, too. I quoted Red Line’s scouting report from 2012 then because it still captured
his strengths and weaknesses admirably; I’ll quote it again here:
when his name was being bandied about the rumour mill and concluded at the time
that he’d be a fantastic fit for the Oilers. His underlying numbers are very
good, and he shows well by the eye-test, too. I quoted Red Line’s scouting report from 2012 then because it still captured
his strengths and weaknesses admirably; I’ll quote it again here:
Perhaps the best pure skating defencemen in this year’s
draft with great wheels, powerful stride, lateral mobility and quick feet. Very
smooth pivots. Excellent backwards skater. Intense competitor with lots of
fire. Loves the physical aspect of the game and is constantly looking to
initiate contact – plays with a mean streak. Shutdown defender is defensively
aware and well-positioned. Great gap control and tough to beat off the rush.
Uses his size/strength to win all the board battles. Can carry the puck out of
the zone under heavy pressure and likes to activate offensively, moving up into
the rush often, but lacks instincts at offensive end and is neither creative or
effective in his rushes. Lacks offensive upside and PP acumen. Team leader is a
confident, take-charge guy.
He’s big and mean, smart and fast, good with and without the
puck. He’s basically first-unit power play ability away from being the total
package as an NHL defenceman. He’s only 22 years old and will only get better
from here.
puck. He’s basically first-unit power play ability away from being the total
package as an NHL defenceman. He’s only 22 years old and will only get better
from here.
About Nurse
Nurse was drafted the year after Trouba, and it seems fair
to say that at this point he projects to be a lesser player. Trouba’s rookie
year was three seasons ago; he averaged 22:26 per night, scored 29 points and
had good underlying numbers. In contrast, Nurse’s first NHL season came at an
older age, on a weaker blue line, and he averaged 20:13 per game, scored 10
points, and had brutal underlying numbers.
to say that at this point he projects to be a lesser player. Trouba’s rookie
year was three seasons ago; he averaged 22:26 per night, scored 29 points and
had good underlying numbers. In contrast, Nurse’s first NHL season came at an
older age, on a weaker blue line, and he averaged 20:13 per game, scored 10
points, and had brutal underlying numbers.
We may certainly argue that Nurse will get better as a
possession player—I think he will—but he’s starting so far back of where Trouba
was that he’ll need to make shocking progress to surpass him as an NHL player,
particularly since Trouba’s only a year older and also still progressing.
possession player—I think he will—but he’s starting so far back of where Trouba
was that he’ll need to make shocking progress to surpass him as an NHL player,
particularly since Trouba’s only a year older and also still progressing.
Yet Nurse’s skillset has some things in common with that of
Trouba. He’s big and mean, and he can skate. He’s not as good with the puck,
but he’s certainly not incompetent with it on his stick, either. I’d argue—without
any disrespect intended—that Trouba’s also a more polished player positionally
than Nurse is at this point in time.
Trouba. He’s big and mean, and he can skate. He’s not as good with the puck,
but he’s certainly not incompetent with it on his stick, either. I’d argue—without
any disrespect intended—that Trouba’s also a more polished player positionally
than Nurse is at this point in time.
Looking at comparables, I’ve previously made the case for Nurse to eventually settle in as a solid second-pair defender, though at this point it’s impossible to know what he’ll ultiamtely be.
Edmonton’s Situation
The Oilers have had a bold summer, adding Adam Larsson and
Milan Lucic. The team is under pressure to turn north in a hurry, but despite
the moves it remains an open question as to how good they’ll be when the
regular season starts.
Milan Lucic. The team is under pressure to turn north in a hurry, but despite
the moves it remains an open question as to how good they’ll be when the
regular season starts.
Trouba would do much to improve their blue line. Just
imagine the depth chart:
imagine the depth chart:
- Oscar Klefbom – Adam Larsson
- Andrej Sekera – Jacob Trouba
- Brandon Davidson – Mark Fayne
That’s an awfully impressive group, featuring four young
defencemen—Trouba, Klefbom, Larsson and Davidson—who could conceivably be
together for most of the next decade. It’s also a group featuring three
pairings that can play against absolutely anyone and two capable of just
soaking up the tough minutes.
defencemen—Trouba, Klefbom, Larsson and Davidson—who could conceivably be
together for most of the next decade. It’s also a group featuring three
pairings that can play against absolutely anyone and two capable of just
soaking up the tough minutes.
It also helps settle the lefty/righty imbalance in Edmonton’s
system. The Oilers have a ton of left-shot prospects in the system, but the
need to give Nurse a somewhat sheltered role on the roster in the here-and-now
makes it difficult to bring those players up. Swapping Nurse for Trouba would
a) give the team another good righty to play with those guys and b) clear Nurse’s
slot for a developing player (Griffin Reinhart, Dillon Simpson, Jordan Oesterle,
etc.).
system. The Oilers have a ton of left-shot prospects in the system, but the
need to give Nurse a somewhat sheltered role on the roster in the here-and-now
makes it difficult to bring those players up. Swapping Nurse for Trouba would
a) give the team another good righty to play with those guys and b) clear Nurse’s
slot for a developing player (Griffin Reinhart, Dillon Simpson, Jordan Oesterle,
etc.).
What Would You Do?
If there were a trade to be made built around
Trouba-for-Nurse, would you do it? If so, how much would you be willing to add
to the deal to get it done?
Trouba-for-Nurse, would you do it? If so, how much would you be willing to add
to the deal to get it done?
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