Darnell Nurse
San Jose Sharks · #25 · Defenseman · age 31 · 6'4" · 215 lb · shoots LBorn 🇨🇦 Hamilton, Ontario · Drafted 2013 · Rd 1 #7
TWO-WAY DEFENSEMAN0.14 points/game — steady, no single skill dominates
2 points in 14 games — 132nd of 228 defensemen. The average defenseman has 4.2.
8HEAT · FORM, LAST 5 GAMEShotter than 29% of defensemen · average defenseman 15
100ENERGY · FRESHaverage defenseman 92 · last game 2 days ago
SCOUTING REPORT · AI, FROM THE NUMBERS
The player.
WHO HE IS · LONG TERM
Darnell Nurse is the prototypical modern defenseman: a physical presence whose offensive contributions, evidenced by his assist-heavy scoring and steady point-per-game pace, translate to consistent puck movement and secondary scoring. He's the anchor on the blue line, capable of eating minutes and driving play, making him a crucial piece for any team.
RIGHT NOW · LAST 5 GAMES
Nurse is in a scoring lull, with no points in his last five games despite consistent ice time. This dry spell suggests a temporary dip rather than a significant shift in his typical production.
FORM OVER TIME · GAME BY GAME
Heat over time.
Steady around 8 lately — hotter than 29% of defensemen, against an average defenseman at 15.
Now 8 · +8 over these 14 games
━● Heat after each game╍ average defenseman (15)┈ top 5% of defensemen (44)
LAST 5 GAMES
The last stretch.
1 point in 5 games — 1.4× his usual pace, and 0.6× what an average defenseman scores in 5 games.
| LAST 5 GAMES | HIM | HIS USUAL · PER 5 GAMES | AVERAGE DEFENSEMAN | VERDICT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goals | 0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | ▼ 0.0× his usual |
| Assists | 1 | 0.4 | 1.3 | ▲ 2.8× his usual |
| Points | 1 | 0.7 | 1.6 | ▲ 1.4× his usual |
| Shots | 5 | 9 | 6 | ▼ 0.6× his usual |
| Shooting % | 0.0% | 4.0% | 6.3% | ▼ 0.0× his usual |
| Plus/minus | −2 | −1.1 | +0.0 | −1 vs his usual |
| Ice time a game | 22:00 | 21:23 | 18:32 | ≈ 1.0× his usual |
| DATE | OPPONENT | RESULT | G | A | POINTS | SOG | +/- | TOI | HEAT AFTER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31 | vs OTT | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 21:10 | 8 |
| Oct 29 | vs VAN | W | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +1 | 23:01 | 8 |
| Oct 27 | vs BUF | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 23:54 | 8 |
| Oct 24 | @ BOS | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | −2 | 20:04 | 8 |
| Oct 22 | @OTT | W | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 21:52 | 8 |
THIS SEASON · 2026–27 · AMONG 228 DEFENSEMEN
Where he stands.
The bar runs from zero to the league's best defenseman; the white tick is the average defenseman.
Points132nd of 228 defensemen2leader 
Bouchard 26
Bouchard 26Goals56th of 228 defensemen1leader Bouchard 8
Bouchard 8Assists142nd of 228 defensemen1leader Bouchard 18
Bouchard 18Shots30th of 228 defensemen25leader 
Schaefer 52
Schaefer 52Power-play points63rd of 228 defensemen0leader 
Jones 11
Jones 11Plus/minus167th of 228 defensemen−3leader Bouchard +22
Bouchard +22Ice time a game50th of 228 defensemen21:23leader 
Werenski 28:50
Werenski 28:50PERFORMANCE RADAR · PER GAME, PERCENTILE VS DEFENSEMEN
Shape of his game.
Separates in: shots (83rd), ice time (78th). Below the middle: power-play points (0th), assists (17th).
■ Nurse this season╍ the average defenseman┈ top 5% of defensemen
CAREER · NHL REGULAR SEASON · SOURCE: NHL.COM
Season by season.
On pace for 12 points over 82 games, against his best season so far: 43 in 2022–23.
| SEASON | TEAM | GP | G | A | PTS | POINTS PER GAME | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026–27 · now | SJS | 14 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.14 | −3 |
| 2025–26 | EDM | 82 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 0.29 | −12 |
| 2024–25 | EDM | 76 | 5 | 28 | 33 | 0.43 | +11 |
| 2023–24 | EDM | 81 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 0.40 | +3 |
| 2022–23 | EDM | 82 | 12 | 31 | 43 | 0.52 | +26 |
| 2021–22 | EDM | 71 | 9 | 26 | 35 | 0.49 | +18 |
| 2020–21 · best | EDM | 56 | 16 | 20 | 36 | 0.64 | +27 |
| 2019–20 | EDM | 71 | 5 | 28 | 33 | 0.46 | −2 |
| 2018–19 | EDM | 82 | 10 | 31 | 41 | 0.50 | −5 |
| 2017–18 | EDM | 82 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 0.32 | +15 |
| 2016–17 | EDM | 44 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 0.25 | 0 |
| 2015–16 | EDM | 69 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0.14 | −13 |
| 2014–15 | EDM | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | −2 |