Top Oilers insider calls out core player for awful play so far this season

Nurse hasn't lived up to his $9.25M salary since signing the deal, but he's certainly been better than what he's showing now. Analysts have been calling out Nurse for his poor play so far this season, and now after 20+ games, the data is damning.

In last night's postgame show, insider Bob Stauffer was going off and finally called out Darnell Nurse for his consistent issue of taking too many weak point shots.

It's been an astounding issue all year long. Too many times the Oilers gain the offensive zone, move the puck back to the point, and it's fired on the net to be easily saved or turned over.

Last night against Buffalo, Darnell Nurse and 5 other defenceman took more shots than Leon Draisaitl. It can't be good offensive strategy to have Nurse shoot instead of their superstar centres.

Not only is Nurse killing the Oilers offensive plays with these weak point shots, he's still a major liability defensively.

Oilers analyst Jonathan Willis also pointed out that Nurse has been one of the worst penalty killers in the NHL over the last 3 years.

The worst part of this situation is the Oilers have no path out. Nurse is still under contract with a full no move clause, and is holding back the Oilers from adding to their team with his inflated salary. Some fans are now calling for him to be a healthy scratch.

There has to be some break-point coming for Nurse, be it a healthy scratch or a hard conversation with the coaching staff. He needs to improve his play, or the Oilers won't have a hope in the playoffs.