2023 NHL DRAFT CLASS - DANNY NELSON

With the 2023 NHL Draft coming up next month, we're profiling some of the players that may be of interest to the Flames when they make their selection at 16th overall. In this edition, we take a closer look at forward Danny Nelson of the U.S. National Team Development Program

Height: 6'3" Weight: 202 lbs.
Position: Centre
Hometown: St. Louis Park, Minn., USA
Final Ranking: 22nd (North American Skaters)

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Climbing the ranks and becoming a legitimate NHL prospect is - in itself - an arduous, athletic achievement.

Imagine specializing in that one discipline for years. Learning it. Growing.

And then, plying your trade in two totally different positions.

That was for the case for U.S. National Team forward Danny Nelson, who spent his formative years at forward, but was recently asked to make one heck of a switch.

"Last year, I played a little bit of defence because that's what my team needed," said Nelson, who's ranked 22nd among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. "My coaches asked me to go back and play because they knew I had some experience with it. In our fall season the year before, I tried it and had a little bit of success - and because that's what our team needed at that point - I was happy to try it again."

It's rare for players at that age - and at such a pivotal stage in their development - to completely change focus like that. But what made the experiment worthwhile was that it wasn't some grand scheme to convert the 6-foot-3, 202-lb. winger into a rugged, stay-at-home defender. Instead, it was all about maximizing his talents as a multi-faceted, fleet-of-foot offensive driver.

"When I did play defence, I was given the green light to rush the puck whenever I wanted," explained Nelson, drawing parallels to former NHLer Dustin Byfuglien, who famously moved back and forth between forward and D, before settling as one of the game's elite blueliners.

"I think it was a good experience for me to get to see that side of the puck. Honestly, the transition wasn't too tough. Once I got the positioning part nailed down, I was able to play pretty freely.

"This year, coming back to forward, that helped me being able to have that experience of seeing both sides of the ice."

Clearly, it paid off.

In 61 games with the National Team Program, Nelson tallied 20 goals and 46 points, before capping off the season with a four-goal, seven-point effort at the IIHF World Under 18s, where the U.S. captured a gold medal in Basel, Switzerland.

"That was one of the great opportunities that I was given and it's something that I'll remember forever," Nelson said of the European experience. "That was actually my second time in Switzerland. I was lucky enough to go there before as part of the Five Nations Tournament when I was younger. Through USA Hockey's National Camps, I made the U-17 team that went over there two summers ago. It was definitely cool to go back there again for another tournament. It's crazy how I've been able to go over there twice and have it all be part of my story."

The Maple Grove, Minnesota native is in intriguing prospect, as he blends big-league size with the mobility, soft hands and elite edge work typically seen in players with a smaller frame. He's relentless on the forecheck and protects the puck well in the offensive zone, largely due to the qualities noted above. He wins battles and does a lot of the dirty work down low, creating time and space for his linemates.

"I watch Leon Draisaitl to try and model my offensive game after him," Nelson explained. "The way he protects the puck and makes plays down low is really impressive.

"That's something I want to try to bring to my game and improve upon, offensively."

His gritty style of play is likely why Nelson - who made it a goal of his to gain even more weight throughout the season - is 'overshadowed' by his USNTDP teammates like the flashier Will Smith, Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard.

But he shouldn't be.

At this level, players are developing at their own pace and are carving out a future for themselves. For Nelson, that combination of size and skill is - according to Douglas Larson of scouting service FC Hockey - "something [he's] yet to see in another draft eligible in this class."

"One of the things that makes the US Program so special is the competitive environment we have here," Nelson said. "Getting to compete with 25 of the top guys in the country on a daily basis really drives us to get better and helps us to improve on our game. We're lucky we get to practice with and play against the best players in our age group in the world.

"Personally, I would say it was a great season for me. Back in the fall, I made it a goal of mine to be around a point per game and I got pretty close to that.

"I didn't get there, but that makes be even hungrier to reach that and even improve upon it for next year."

For the 2023-24 season, Nelson will be taking his talents to the University of Notre Dame where his older brother, Henry, will also be attending.

"It's going to be our first time playing on a team together. Ever," Nelson laughed. "With him being a couple years older than me, we never got the chance - outside of some competitive knee-hockey games in the basement. There's definitely a few holes in the wall that our parents aren't too happy about…

"It's going to be great. The hockey culture they have there is amazing and being able to go to school while playing hockey was a huge thing that attracted me there.

"I'm super excited to get out there and have a chance to compete for a national title."