The Edmonton Oilers are saying that Darnell Nurse could possibly be out for 5-10 days. Fortuitously, it sounds prefer it’s a group option to be overly cautious with the defenseman’s return, seeing because the impression of the hit he took on Saturday gave everybody a little bit of a scare.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch spoke to the media on Monday after the Oilers took their morning skate. Whereas Nurse was strolling round and joking with the trainers after the sport on Saturday, he was not on the ice Monday morning. Knoblauch confirmed that Nurse wouldn’t play and that he’ll miss tonight’s matchup with the Montreal Canadiens, tomorrow’s towards the Ottawa Senators, and certain Thursday’s assembly with the Minnesota Wild.
“Since then he is progressed rather well, doing pretty much as good as he can. We’ll take our time & make it possible for he is prepared when he does return.”
Coach Knoblauch on Darnell Nurse after leaving Saturday’s recreation with an upper-body harm.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/a2ofBQZqx0
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) November 18, 2024
When requested how he’s doing, “Clearly there was an enormous scare there, simply when it occurred on the ice. Since then he’s progressed rather well, doing pretty much as good as he can. We’ll take our time and make it possible for he’s prepared when he does return.”
Within the meantime, the Oilers will go 11-7 and can rotate Josh Brown in with Troy Stecher, Ty Emberson, and Travis Dermott. Knoblauch appeared excited concerning the physicality Brown has introduced within the AHL.
Nurse Damage Information May Have Been A lot Worse
It’s not splendid that Nurse will miss no less than the following three video games. On the similar time, he took an enormous hit on to the pinnacle and it regarded extraordinarily harmful and scary as he was bleeding on the ice and was having bother getting up.
Ryan Reaves was suspended 5 video games for delivering the hit and, if Oilers followers take any silver lining from the state of affairs, it’s that Reaves will doubtless miss extra time than Nurse will. Knoblauch mentioned that he thought the NHL dealt with it nicely, even when they felt the punishment wasn’t extreme sufficient. He mentioned they have been nervous about Darnell and want that hadn’t occurred. “It’s what it’s,” Knoblauch mentioned.
The Look of the Nurse Damage Shouldn’t Be Solely Scare for Oilers
The truth that the harm regarded brutal shouldn’t be the one factor that scares the Oilers. Their lack of depth must be regarding for GM Stan Bowman. If Nurse had been misplaced for greater than the 5-10 days Knoblauch is estimating, Edmonton would have been in a bind.
Not solely are they skinny on the best facet, however with out Nurse on the left, Mattias Ekholm and Brett Kulak would have needed to carry the load for the group, with out sturdy protection companions. Evan Bouchard is an elite defenseman, however he’s proven he’s vulnerable to large errors. That’s not one thing the Oilers can afford.
Whereas it seems Edmonton has dodged a bullet, the Nurse scare may need woken Bowman as much as the fact he wants one other blueliner.
Subsequent: Nurse Damage Timeline Revealed, Oilers Down Two Gamers vs. Canadiens
