"It is Only a Matter of Time for Him": Danielson Proving NHL Query is about When, Not If

Nate Danielson didn’t know learn how to really feel when he heard Patrick Kane evaluate him to Connor Bedard.

On one hand, the Crimson Wings’ ninth total decide in 2023 was excited to listen to reward from a participant he idolized rising up — “I’ve watched his shootouts 1000’s of occasions,” he mentioned of Kane. However Danielson additionally doesn’t need to liken himself an excessive amount of to Bedard, an in depth buddy and fellow WHL product. Whereas he’s flattered by Kane’s comparability, Danielson mentioned he fashions his sport extra off of Dylan Larkin.

“I feel I play much like him as only a full two means centerman,” Danielson mentioned Thursday. “… And I feel his compete, too. He’s somebody who each observe — he would not care what it’s — if it’s in a sport or on the finish of observe, he needs to win, and so he is somebody I positively look as much as and watch.”

The particular comparisons do not matter a lot because the precept: earlier than his first professional season, NHL stars are being attentive to Danielson’s sport. Particularly, Patrick Kane is doing so.

For good purpose, too. Danielson has been spectacular for the Crimson Wings these previous few weeks, from the prospect video games towards Dallas, to coaching camp in Traverse Metropolis and now in preseason practices. It is a optimistic method to construct on the excessive expectations he got here in with, after impressing final coaching camp as an 18-year-old and following that up with a stable season within the WHL. His success the previous few weeks has been a preview for what Danielson might carry to the Detroit Crimson Wings sometime — a future that seems to be fairly brilliant. How quickly? That is a distinct story.

If we’re going off Danielson’s personal performances, it seems NHL readiness is sort of quickly. The brilliant lights of taking part in with childhood heroes hasn’t caught Danielson off guard. In reality, he’s checked out house alongside them.

Along with his hard-working identification proven all 200 ft of the rink, Danielson has completed extra than simply present his teammates that he’s a dynamic younger prospect. He’s additionally earned their respect.

“Even from final 12 months, he’s only a actually good participant,” alternate captain Andrew Copp mentioned Thursday. “A man that is aware of the place to be, is aware of learn how to transfer the puck. I feel you’ll be able to inform that he is placed on a bit of little bit of muscle, a bit of little bit of mass for the reason that final time I noticed him this time final 12 months. I am wanting ahead to seeing how he performs within the preseason video games, since you positively see it is there. It is only a matter of time for him.”

No single factor makes Danielson’s sport prepared for the NHL. Somewhat, he places so many particulars collectively. He possesses the hockey sense of a clever vet, utilizing that to play distinctive protection and create scoring possibilities for his staff. He additionally bulked up a bit this offseason, including about 4 kilos whereas already understanding learn how to maximize his leverage to utilize it. Most of all, Danielson has a “B” sport — the nice habits gamers use to persistently make profitable performs — that few gamers his age possess. And that’s the place the NHL-ready separate themselves from the NHL-hopeful.

“I actually assume a two-way sport the place you are taking part in the best means on a regular basis, you may make an affect in profitable shifts,” Crimson Wings coach Derek Lalonde mentioned Wednesday. “To me, that is when the participant is prepared.”

Thursday, Lalonde shared much more reward for Danielson, hedging that he is nonetheless enhancing some areas of his sport. “His hockey sense, his really feel for the sport, puck help, sport administration — very nice participant,” Crimson Wings coach Derek Lalonde praised Thursday. “I feel (he’s) nonetheless understanding some issues within the sport, he appears to have a bit of extra puck play points in camp this 12 months than he did final 12 months, and I simply assume that is a part of the pure improvement. However clearly there’s lots of upside.”

Lalonde is fast to level out that Danielson is the form of participant who heats up as a camp progresses, particularly as soon as he will get into video games. “It would not shock me, the best way he thinks the sport,” Lalonde mentioned to elucidate the phenomenon. And  in Detroit’s seven remaining video games this preseason, Danielson will get loads of alternatives to indicate his sport at full temperature, which is able to give a a lot better glimpse into what he’ll be bringing to the NHL sometime quickly.

However even when he performs exceedingly effectively, even when he performs like an NHLer ought to, getting on the roster is not so easy for Danielson. He has but to play knowledgeable season, and the Yzerman period Crimson Wings aren’t typical to hurry a prospect with no sprinkle of AHL seasoning. And even when they did need to carry Danielson up, there actually isn’t a spot for him given that there’s solely going to be house for 12 forwards on the roster because it presently stands. After which if he had been to even make the roster, there’s the query of the place he matches in.

“If he could make the Detroit Crimson Wings, OK, the place’s he taking part in and what’s his function going to be?” normal supervisor Steve Yzerman mentioned Sept. 17. “Versus, if it’s a minor function, a bit half function, and he isn’t taking part in recurrently — and this goes for any of our younger guys — then they’re higher off at the very least as a primary 12 months professional, taking part in loads within the American Hockey League. So we’ll simply let it play out.”

If that prognostication was extra a mirrored image of the panorama than Danielson himself, then it in all probability hasn’t modified an excessive amount of. Grand Rapids seems to be the most definitely vacation spot for Danielson, as a result of there simply isn’t a transparent spot for him on the roster even when he did exit and declare it.

In a means, the Danielson dilemma exhibits how a lot Detroit has grown as a company. The previous when rookies like Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond might simply crack a roster out of coaching camp are gone, with bona fide NHLers filling each roster spot. It’s more durable for younger prodigies to get to the large membership now, and that’s not essentially a foul factor even when it makes for some ready within the case of Danielson.

Taking part in like he presently is although, Danielson is constructing hype for what he may at some point carry to the NHL desk. His mix of a 200-foot sport with sturdy offensive instincts is a mix that Detroit doesn’t have an abundance of. He is the form of participant who might fill the Crimson Wings’ long-standing gap as a second-line heart, or he might even exceed these expectations. His offensive traits — stick-handling and taking pictures — are why Kane in contrast Danielson to Bedard. They’re additionally why he’s received Detroit’s entrance workplace so enthusiastic about what he can carry.

Till there’s a transparent path, all Danielson can do is maintain doing what he is doing, as a result of at some point, he’s going to make the Crimson Wings roster. And if the reward of NHL friends is any indication, that day is quickly approaching.

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