Darnell Nurse knows the drill by now. He has spent enough time in the spotlight since the Edmonton Oilers took him with the No. 7 pick in the 2013 Draft, so even a quiet media setup after a 5-0 loss at the Dallas Stars on Monday didn’t bother him much. Two reporters, one camera, one questioner - and Nurse handled it without issue.
Friday was a different scene. On the eve of San Jose’s matchup with Edmonton on Saturday afternoon, the Sharks defenseman was back in front of a much bigger group, with about a half-dozen Edmonton media members gathered around him in his new locker room.
And the topic was obvious: what it’s going to feel like to face the team he spent so long playing for.
Nurse said the emotional side is real, especially with so many people still over there who matter to him.
“I’ve got a lot of friends over there. They’ll be lifelong friends.
For me, it’ll be different for sure, wearing a different jersey and being able to play against the team. But I’m really looking forward to the challenge of playing against one of the top teams in our division, and it’ll definitely be different.
Practiced against each other for a long time, so to be able to lace up and do it for real.”
The challenge, of course, starts with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard - a trio Nurse knows as well as anyone. He said the Sharks will need more than a one-man answer to handle Edmonton’s attack.
“The three of them have been amazing so far. With the firepower - it’s not just three guys, (it’s) throughout their lineup - that they have, we’ve got to come up with a good team effort and try to put our will on the game.
Try to come out and bring our energy and bring our force. Anytime you play against some of the best players in the league, it’s always a tough challenge, but one we’re really looking forward to.”
Asked what will feel strangest when he looks across the ice, Nurse didn’t point to a star. He pointed to the crest.
“It’s just the logo, right? I wore the logo for so long.
You just look at it - it’s going to be weird. I think it’s going to be Brad Harrison over there, the trainer on the bench.
I’m going to have to fire a puck in there at him.”
Nurse also made it clear that the Sharks’ welcome has helped smooth the transition. He said his family has felt at home already, and he’s been working on the kids too - with a little help from the moment.
“I’ve been planting in the kids’ ears that they’ve got to boo when they see Oilers jerseys. So we’ve been working on it and making sure that they’re going to have their Sharks jerseys on to be happy and excited for the Sharks.
I’ve been extremely fortunate here over the last couple months to be a part of this group. This group is a special group, and very welcoming.
To come into a new situation, it’s been a lot of fun. It feels like home already.
I’m looking forward to challenges that lie ahead over the course of season, and tomorrow is another one.”
He said he’s already talked with teammates about what it’s like to go up against an old club, even if he hasn’t experienced it himself before. The way he sees it, once the puck drops, the rest is manageable.
“It’s a new experience. I asked some of the guys in here, like ‘Is it weird to play against your old team?’
I’ve never been through it before, but I’ve played against good friends and people when they get traded and whatnot, so there’s that experience to lean on as well. As a competitor and as someone who wants to win every night, it’ll be pretty easy to compartmentalize and just go out there and play.”
As for any extra edge or chip on his shoulder with Oilers fans watching, Nurse kept the answer simple.
“Just play and see what happens. You can’t get focused on that stuff.
We talk about the outside noise and all this stuff, but one of the best things I ever learned from playing in a market like that is to be mentally tough, to just focus on what you can control, and let the rest take care of itself. You don’t focus on it.
Anyone playing an old team is a little different, and for how long I was there. But I’m in a new place, I’m exactly where I should be, and enjoying every moment of it.”
Still, when asked whether this one will matter more than the others, Nurse didn’t try to dress it up.
“100%. You know why? It’s a division game, so it matters a little more. (laughs)”
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Celebrini sounded encouraged about the possibility of returning, but he also stressed the need to follow medical advice rather than rush the process. The final call will be a collective one involving the Sharks doctors, trainers and medical staff, which leaves one of the teams most important availability questions hanging right up until puck drop. [Read more 🡒]