'Do You Know Why You're Making 9.25?': Paul Coffey Reveals First Words He Spoke To Darnell Nurse

"We are nothing without Darnell Nurse."

Regarding valuable players on the Edmonton Oilers, a few names stand out above the rest. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm, and Stuart Skinner make up a good chunk of that list.

The coaches and players would agree that another name needs to be in the same conversation -- Darnell Nurse.

The 29-year-old defender is having a good season this year. With 15 points in 28 games, he is on pace to have his best offensive year.

And Oilers fans can thank Paul Coffey for that.

Nurse and Coffey discussed several topics over the offseason, but one stood out the most to the Oilers' assistant coach.

"I promised to deliver him a leadership role on the ice," Coffey said to Ryan Rishaug in an interview for the TSN journalist's Got Yer Back podcast. "But it came with a cost. You want the ice time? You've got to play good."

The 6-foot-4 defender has taken that to heart.

The belief in Nurse stems further back than this past summer. For Coffey specifically, it dates back years prior.

"The first thing I said to him three or four years ago," Coffey revealed, "I didn't even have the position as coach I said, 'do you know why you're making nine and a quarter?'

"Cause you deserve it. You've earned it, so don't worry about it."

Coffey continues, talking about how Nurse can play to earn his weight in gold.

"There's nothing offensively you can do on the ice to earn that nine and a quarter," Coffey explained. "But if you keep playing as an all-around defenseman, you are going to surpass that three or four times over."

"And he's done that."

This is incredibly high praise from one of the best defenders to ever play in the NHL. Coffey has records that still stand today. He's experienced his own ridicule and pressure from media and fans alike.

His coach isn't the only one to sing his praises. Coffey revealed something Ekholm has repeatedly told him about Nurse and his impact on the team.

"Ekky knows we are nothing without Darnell Nurse. He's said that many-a-time to me."

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