The Spitting Chiclets tell fans to back off Darnell Nurse.

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Ryan Hall
September 23, 2023 (11:01)

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Much has been discussed regarding the Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, particularly about his salary and his on-ice performance.

The controversy surrounding this player emerged when he inked a massive contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers in 2022. Nurse is now entering his second season under this extension, which was valued at $74 million over 8 years.

Having spent over a decade with the Oilers since being drafted in the first round, 7th overall, in 2013, this six-foot-four, 221-pound defenseman continues to grapple with exceedingly high expectations, largely due to the terms of his contract.

However, today on the Spitting Chiclets podcast, BizNasty and Ryan Whitney came to Nurse's defence and shed light on his standing in the dressing room among his teammates and within the organization.

During the 2022-2023 season, Nurse played 82 games despite battling injuries and displaying a subpar performance towards the end of the year and during the playoffs. He managed to score twelve goals and record 31 assists, accumulating a total of 43 points while maintaining a +26 rating. Additionally, he accrued 64 penalty minutes.

Nurse is hopeful for a better season this year, as he recently became a father for the second time during the summer. With his injuries now behind him, he also aspires to inject a newfound vigour into his game.