Don Cherry tears a strip off Darnell Nurse

PUBLICATION

Patrick Frost
November 25, 2024 (5:51 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

During a recent segment of Don Cherry's Grapevine podcast, the veteran hockey analyst sounds off on Darnell Nurse is response to the Ryan Reaves incident.

During last Saturday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Darnell Nurse was retrieving the puck in what appeared to be a routine play, but Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer came charging around the corner, deliberately clipping Darnell Nurse in the face.

A few days later, Darnell Nurse broke his silence about the hit, highlighting his personal feelings regarding the incident.

« You can argue about the intent, but there are certain guys in the league that each shift they go out there, they try and go inflict pain. And I think it's pretty obvious what was going on there. «
- Darnell Nurse

During the initial stages of the podcast, Don Cherry reminisced about the good ol' days when 30-40 years ago, a hit like that would be deemed acceptable.

«You know, it's a funny thing,» Cherry said. «Nobody ever come around (the net) like that with their head down, because the wingers would leave, and as soon as they saw you do that once, they'd get you the next time.»

On this podcast this Sunday, Cherry said he Reaves did not deserve five games, then read out the Nurse quote at length, ending with the Nurse's observation that some players are out every shift to inflict pain.

«Well,» Cherry said, «I mean, isn't that the name of the game?»

Cherry downplayed the impact on Nurse. «He got a goal the next game.»

Don Cherry explains that Darnell Nurse is ultimately at fault for putting himself in a vulnerable position.

Although that might be true, the NHL is far from the game Don Cherry grew up with.