Why was Eric Staal so bad for us?

Irishguy42

Mr. Preachy
Sep 11, 2015
26,818
19,072
NJ
He was used as a 3LW by our dumb coach instead of a Top 6 center.

He also didn't have consistent linemates.

AV is what was wrong with Staal.

He then went to Minnesota, was given a good coach who put him in a position to succeed with the skills he has and...wow...he is doing well. Imagine my shock.
 

Ola

Registered User
Apr 10, 2004
34,597
11,595
Sweden
Watch Minny in the POs. They are big and slow and very ineffective. I am far from a big fan of Staal. He never did anything with Carolina after 06’, he was useless here, and he has done nothing for Minny in the POs. Speed kills, he is really slow.
 

SnowblindNYR

HFBoards Sponsor
Sponsor
Nov 16, 2011
51,997
30,542
Brooklyn, NY
Watch Minny in the POs. They are big and slow and very ineffective. I am far from a big fan of Staal. He never did anything with Carolina after 06’, he was useless here, and he has done nothing for Minny in the POs. Speed kills, he is really slow.

Big and slow won LA two cups.
 

nevesis

#30
Sponsor
Jan 3, 2008
35,445
11,861
NY
This definitely deserved it's own thread.

Next week, we'll go deep into why Per Djoos fell off the face of the earth.
 
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Samuel Culper III

Mr. Woodhull...
Jan 15, 2007
13,144
1,099
Texas
E. Staal: 33y 117 days old, 2003 #2 overall pick, 1072 games played, 902 points (380 goals)

R. Nash: 33y 252 days old, 2002 #1 overall pick, 1049 games played, 799 points (434 goals)

Eric Staal’s last 3 years:
83GP 39P, 82GP 65P, 61GP 56P

Rick Nash’s last 3 years:
60GP 36P, 67GP 38P, 60GP 28P

Two very similar players almost identical in draft pedigree and age. Three years ago both were at a turning point. Staal was a UFA and at an all time low in value. We rented him relatively cheap compared to his former reputation, it didn’t work out, Minnesota took a shot on him in UFA. He has bounced back in a major way. Nash has continued to decline. He isn’t appreciably older, but he has not kept up with the game the way Staal has. Staal’s resurgence is truly impressive and I have a lot of respect for him. Probably beat last year’s total of 65 points if he stays healthy the rest of the way. Back to back 65-70 point seasons is a strong comeback, approaching 34 years old.
 

Hunter Gathers

The Crown
Feb 27, 2002
106,656
11,786
parts unknown
E. Staal: 33y 117 days old, 2003 #2 overall pick, 1072 games played, 902 points (380 goals)

R. Nash: 33y 252 days old, 2002 #1 overall pick, 1049 games played, 799 points (434 goals)

Eric Staal’s last 3 years:
83GP 39P, 82GP 65P, 61GP 56P

Rick Nash’s last 3 years:
60GP 36P, 67GP 38P, 60GP 28P

Two very similar players almost identical in draft pedigree and age. Three years ago both were at a turning point. Staal was a UFA and at an all time low in value. We rented him relatively cheap compared to his former reputation, it didn’t work out, Minnesota took a shot on him in UFA. He has bounced back in a major way. Nash has continued to decline. He isn’t appreciably older, but he has not kept up with the game the way Staal has. Staal’s resurgence is truly impressive and I have a lot of respect for him. Probably beat last year’s total of 65 points if he stays healthy the rest of the way. Back to back 65-70 point seasons is a strong comeback, approaching 34 years old.

I am willing to bet Nash nets 55 points next year with a different coach.
 

Samuel Culper III

Mr. Woodhull...
Jan 15, 2007
13,144
1,099
Texas
I am willing to bet Nash nets 55 points next year with a different coach.

I wouldn’t bet against it, but I wouldn’t put money on it either. Part of me expects him to get hot as soon as he’s traded. 15 points in his final 20 odd games. Another part of me doesn’t think he’ll break 50 points ever again. Still, a sort of interesting comparison based on pedigree, draft position, age, year they both started to look like they were declining, etc.
 

will1066

Fonz Drury
Oct 12, 2008
43,924
60,127
AV is a lot to blame but when E Staal was here, he was atrocious. I mean absolutely plumbed new levels of atrocity. Basically forgot how to play hockey. You couldn't coach his kind of bad
 

57special

Posting the right way since 2012.
Sep 5, 2012
47,989
19,713
MN
Staal has never played anything but C in MN.

He is not slow. Actually deceptively fast. Just has really long strides. Also has a deceptively good shot. Nothing screams elite about him, but he is, or damn close.

Life in MN (he is from Thunder Bay, just up the way) agrees with him and his young family. He likes to make a rink in his backyard, invite Cullen(was one of his mentors back in CAR when he was young) and his kids over to skate with his kids. Maybe not a NYC type guy.

Maybe better off away from his brother(s)?

He's one of those guys who isn't flashy, but continually produces, even when stuck with mediocre linemates. At one point he had Winnik and Ennis on his line in MN.

I think his final year in CAR/NYR humbled him, and got him to rededicate himself to his game.
 

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