Darnell Nurse's performance has notably lagged, putting him on the brink of an undesirable record. According to Big Head Hockey, Nurse is perilously close to a -16 rating, which would be the worst in NHL playoff history.
With a hefty salary of $9.25M, expectations for Nurse were high. However, over 19 playoff games, his contributions have been minimal, with zero goals and only three assists, despite averaging nearly 20 minutes on the ice each game. This underperformance has sparked widespread criticism from fans, media, and possibly even teammates.
The defensive pairing of Nurse and Ceci has been particularly problematic. In game one of the Stanley Cup Final, they were on the ice for two crucial goals against due to defensive errors. While Ceci's -7 rating is poor, it pales in comparison to Nurse's record-threatening numbers.
When questioned about the duo's difficulties, Coach Knoblauch defended his decision to keep them together but did not rule out adjustments. With the Cup Final underway, there is no room for error, and Knoblauch's history shows he is capable of making bold lineup changes. Increased ice time for Kulak and Broberg might be on the table as potential enhancements.
As the Oilers prepare for their next practice in Florida, all eyes will be on Knoblauch's next move. Will he shuffle his defensive lineup to steer clear of historic lows? Only time will tell, but with the stakes this high, every decision is critical
