Oilers Fans United on Team's Biggest Problem After Three Game Losing Streak
The Edmonton Oilers have dropped their first three games of the season, causing some panic among fans and media about a slow start - with most focused criticism on Darnell Nurse.
The Oilers defence outside of the first pairing has been absolutely porous in the first three games, with Darnell Nurse's pair being caved in the most. Nurse is already struggling to live up to the value of his $9.5M contract, and seriously struggled last playoffs setting the record for the worst plus minus rating in history.
As Ryan Rishaug and Jason Strudwick discussed on the Got Yer Back Pod, the Oilers took a struggling player in Darnell Nurse and asked him to carry an entire pairing on his own, while mentoring a young player like Ty Emberson. The situation has really highlighted the fact that Nurse is not a reliable defenceman that can handle that assignment, which is the expectation from a player with his salary and leadership.
Oilers analytics expert NHL Sid crunched the numbers on the early results this season, and actually found the Oilers second pairing to be the one struggling the most. Of course, that's Nurse's pairing.
As a whole the Oilers are under forming at the moment, but fans are united that the biggest problem in the team is the play of Darnell Nurse with his major contract. He's an assistant captain on the team, and simply needs to be better - especially at a time when the Oilers need him to be. A few fans have even called for Nurse to be healthy scratched as a wake up call.
The Oilers leadership group has been vocal about demanding more out of their teammates even before losing to the Calgary Flames. Tomorrow night's effort against the Philadelphia Flyers better be an improved effort, or else the noise around a slow start for the Oilers will only intensify.
| POLL | ||
Do you think Darnell Nurse is the Oilers biggest problem on the roster? | ||
| Yes, the contract is a problem | 128 | 68.1 % |
| No, he's a good player | 50 | 26.6 % |
| See Results | 10 | 5.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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