Quoting: PleaseBanMeForMyOwnGood
Except his performance hasn't been as good as it seems. His numbers have been good when he's been on the ice with McDavid or Draisaitl but below average when he's not with them. It's the McDavid effect. Rielly gets to play with good players as well but he creates offence at a super elite rate and is decent defensively.
What kind of numbers suggest that? Not arguing they aren't there, but I just want to know.
Deep specific analytics aside, as a fan whos watched practically every Oilers game for the last decade +, I guess im using more of the "eye-test" on Nurse. For the previous 5+ seasons, Nurse might have been the most frustrating player to watch. He has all the physical tools and athleticism you could every dream for a dman, but you could guarantee 2-3 absolute bone-head decisions a game that would more often than not lead to chances/goals against. This season, that simply isn't happening. He's been a rock in the d-zone visually, and obviously is capitalizing on his scoring chances at a higher rate. He plays a ton 5x5 and pk, and has been getting some late pp looks too and does not look out of place anywhere.
Im not saying he does not have any flaws in his game, nor am I saying I think he's guaranteed a roster spot, but for how he's played this season, and the relatively short list of guys on the left-side for team Canada (RHD is way deeper), I just think its pretty ignorant to say he has zero chance or he's not a good player as some people have posted here.