OHL Notebook: NHL debut for Darnell Nurse

Darnell Nurse made his National Hockey League debut with the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night.

The former (as it stands right now) Soo Greyhounds defenceman was inserted into the Edmonton lineup to replace veteran defenceman Jeff Petry. A shoulder injury forced Petry to miss training camp and, despite playing in the Oilers first two regular season games, Coach Dallas Eakins opted to take the veteran out of the lineup in favour of Nurse.

Nurse saw just over 18 minutes of ice time in the game with two shots on goal.

Nurse was the Oilers first round pick, seventh overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He was sent back to the Greyhounds prior to the start of the NHL regular season last winter.

The Oilers have two options as far as where Nurse will play out the 2014-15 season. Should the team decide not to keep him on the NHL roster, the Oilers would have to send the 19-year-old back to the Greyhounds for the rest of the season, after which, he can only be recalled as an emergency callup.

The Oilers can send Nurse back to the Greyhounds at any point during the season, but if they do so after the blueliner has dressed in nine games, the first year of his entry level contract kicks in.

Nurse was one of a number of players to play in their first NHL game in the Oilers game against the Los Angeles Kings. For the Oilers, forward Bogdan Yakimov also played his first NHL game against the Kings.

For the Kings, former OHL forward Andy Andreoff also played his first NHL game on Tuesday night.

Around the NHL, a number of other OHL players are in a similar position to Nurse with regards to whether they will be send back to the OHL or not.

Aaron Ekblad, who spent last season with the Barrie Colts before being selected first overall in the 2014 NHL draft, has started the NHL season with the Florida Panthers. The 18-yard-old defenceman has an assist in three games.

Calgary Flames forward Sam Bennett, 18, is currently recovering from shoulder surgery and is expected to be out of the lineup for up to six months. Once he has fully recovered, whether he will suit up for the Flames or be sent back to the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs is up in the air.

American forward Sonny Milano, who signed with the Plymouth Whalers during the summer after spending the last two seasons with the US National Team Development Program. Milano was listed on the Columbus Blue Jackets roster to start the season but has not played due to injury. He is currently on the Blue Jackets non-roster injured reserve list. Once healthy, he is expected to join the Whalers.

The London Knights, who got Max Domi back from the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes, could get two more players back from NHL teams before all is said and done. Buffalo defenceman Nikita Zadorov remains at the NHL level and played in seven games during the 2013-14 season before being sent back to the Knights. The 19-year-old defenceman hasn’t suited up yet this season for the Sabres.

The Knights could also get forward Bo Horvat back in the lineup. Horvat is still with the Vancouver Canucks though he hasn’t dressed for a regular season game yet this season due to injury.

Other 2014 draft picks currently with NHL teams include second overall pick Sam Reinhart (Kootenay Ice – WHL), who was selected by the Buffalo Sabres and Leon Draisaitl (Prince Albert – WHL), who was selected third overall by Edmonton.