MLive’s Ansar Khan discusses Nate Danielson’s preseason debut tonight vs. Pittsburgh (7 PM EDT on Bally Sports Detroit Extra/WWJ 950 AM/PittsburghPenguins.com):
“I’m sure there will be a little bit of nerves before the game,” Danielson, who turns 19 on Wednesday, said. “Just pretty excited right now to have the first one.”
Danielson impressed [coach Derek] Lalonde with his 200-foot game in Traverse City during the Prospects Tournament and training camp.
“A lot of the times you’re teaching some of that 200-foot game,” Lalonde said. “I’m told he’s a 200-foot player. You see clips. But pleasantly for me he seems to have a little more offense, a little more deception to his game, his shot, he can make some plays, which is exciting.”
Danielson it not being overwhelmed by instruction.
“At the end of the day, they just want me to go out and play hockey and play the way I can,” he said. “There’s little details that they try to help me with.”
Naturally, the size, strength and skill level of the competition is the biggest difference. The margin for error also is much slimmer.
“You make a mistake it’s probably going to end up in the back of your net,” Danielson said.
