Darnell Nurse came out for post-game media after the San Jose Sharks’ 5-0 loss at the Dallas Stars on Monday, greeted by two reporters and one camera, and just one reporter asking questions, yours truly.
After being in the limelight, for better and worse, since the Edmonton Oilers made him the No. 7 pick of the 2013 Draft, the 6-foot-4 defenseman didn’t mind.
But Nurse, acquired by the San Jose Sharks over the summer, was back in the media cauldron on Friday, on the eve of his new team’s tilt with the Oilers on Saturday afternoon. About a half-dozen Edmonton media surrounded Nurse in in his now-home locker room.
Sharks tools
Nurse spoke on how “weird” it’s going to be to play his long-time team, the strangest person that he’s going to see on the other side, and if he’s got a chip on his shoulder against the Oilers.
On the emotions of playing his former team…
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.
On how to defend against Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard…
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.
On who will be the strangest guy to see on the other side of the ice…
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.
On thanking his Sharks teammates for making his family feel welcome in San Jose…
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.
On if it won’t feel weird to play his old team after this first game…
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.
On if he has a chip on his shoulder with the Oilers fans watching…
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.
On if this game against the Edmonton Oilers will matter to him more than others…
100%. You know why? It’s a division game, so it matters a little more. (laughs)