Did Eric Staal Live up to His Potential?

[GlitchMarner]

I'd say he was easily a top ten centre from '06-'09.

After that, he had a couple of productive seasons points-wise in '10 and '11, but to me he didn't really seem to be playing to his capabilities all the time.

IIRC, he started off poorly in both 2009 and 2010 and then again in 2011 (as did his team). I remember having the impression that he would often have very lackluster stats early on in seasons and then would warm up and eventually get hot down the stretch.

He had a strong 2013 season but fell off considerably after that. He did have a nice 2017 season.


I know his team wasn't that greatest after 2009, but could he have done more to make the Canes more than a perennial non-playoff team that would turn it on late in the season?

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[A1LeafNation]

No dude is a lazy player half the time I see him play.

Probably why players like to play in small markets where they don't get noticed playing lazy.

 

[DownIsTheNewUp]

No dude is a lazy player half the time I see him play.

Probably why players like to play in small markets where they don't get noticed playing lazy.

Yeah, small markets... Nobody in the stands, or watching on tv, or coaching staff. Nobody in a small market can notice effort.

 

[Sensinitis]

No dude is a lazy player half the time I see him play.

Probably why players like to play in small markets where they don't get noticed playing lazy.

In analytical terms, you should go scuba diving more often.

 

[GlitchMarner]

He was ALWAYS good against the Leafs, though, especially at the ACC.

If he had played like he did against TOR much more often, he could have been a slam-dunk HHOF'er.

 

[Thorton02]

I'd say he turned out ok. Not a HoF'er, but had a couple of all star seasons.

 

[Sensinitis]

I'd say he was easily a top ten centre from '06-'09.

After that, he had a couple of productive seasons points-wise in '10 and '11, but to me he didn't really seem to be playing to his capabilities all the time.

IIRC, he started off poorly in both 2009 and 2010 and then again in 2011 (as did his team). I remember having the impression that he would often have very lackluster stats early on in seasons and then would warm up and eventually get hot down the stretch.

He had a strong 2013 season but fell off considerably after that. He did have a nice 2017 season.


I know his team wasn't that greatest after 2009, but could have have done more to make the Canes more than a perennial non-playoff team that would turn it on late in the season?

I don't see it. From 2005 to 2015, he led his team in scoring in all but two seasons. A good comparable context wise is Tavares.

Not counting his rookie season, the Isles have made the playoffs 3 times out of 7.
The only times the Canes made the playoffs with Staal, they were a deeper team (even in 08-09, there was Whitney, Brindamour). So in Tavares' situation*, Staal and the Canes never made it.

Considering the significant gap in individual caliber between Tavares and Staal, that seems about right.

*meaning a team with very poor depth all around

 

[Hockeyholic]

I'd say he turned out ok. Not a HoF'er, but had a couple of all star seasons.

I'd argue he's borderline.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

I'd say so. He was ~PPG player for 8 consecutive seasons, and still 60 point guy in his 30's.

Things got stale in Carolina, maybe he could've had better numbers the last few years if he got a change of scenery and went to a playoff team earlier.

But despite all of that, he's had a solid, star-like career. I don't think he was/should've ever been viewed as the next superstar. He didn't dominate juniors like others have. In comparison, Dylan Strome had significantly better PPG in his draft year, and they're about the same size too. If Strome can do what Staal has im sure every Arizona fan would be happy.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

Jim Rutherford refused to use high draft picks to take defensemen because "by the time they have an impact they'll leave in FA". He traded away lower draft picks like candy to get out of his mistakes (Boucher, Ruutu, etc) and FA was rarely an option. The guys they did trade for, like Andrej Sekera and Bryan Allen, left because $.

Their defense was a revolving door of trash. Even now it only was rectified because Slavin and Pesce became top tier defenders overnight last season (Francis is also going in the complete opposite direction, having used 3 out of the last 4 1st rounders on defensemen- all LHD at that). Eric Staal playing at a 70 point pace consistently rather than 40 point pace for the first 30 games and 100 point pace for the last 30 isn't going to fix that.

 

[Melrose Munch]

no...

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

I'd say so. He was ~PPG player for 8 consecutive seasons, and still 60 point guy in his 30's.

Things got stale in Carolina, maybe he could've had better numbers the last few years if he got a change of scenery and went to a playoff team earlier.

But despite all of that, he's had a solid, star-like career. I don't think he was/should've ever been viewed as the next superstar. He didn't dominate juniors like others have. In comparison, Dylan Strome had significantly better PPG in his draft year, and they're about the same size too. If Strome can do what Staal has im sure every Arizona fan would be happy.

If Strome can get anywhere near Staal's level Coyotes fans should be ecstatic. He's been one of the most consistent point producers in the league. Since the 04-05 lockout Staal is eighth in points and seventh in goals. He was one of only three guys to score at least 70 points every season between the lockouts.

Barring a major injury he should hit 1000 points and 400 goals within the next few seasons. He's been pretty durable in his career too, so I'd say he's got an outside shot at 500 goals and 1100+ points if he sticks around long enough.

So overall, I'd say he lived up to his potential, although it would been nice to see Rutherford put a better team around him following the Cup win in 06.

 

[Sky04]

During his prime he posted 596 points in 609 games for 8 seasons, pretty damn impressive, 0.98PPG. He was a top-10 center in the league for a couple seasons, won a cup and lead the playoffs in scoring. Not sure what his potential was rated at but he's certainly had a good career.

 

[ThePhoenixx]

In analytical terms, you should go scuba diving more often.

off a short pier?

 

[GlitchMarner]

During his prime he posted 596 points in 609 games for 8 seasons, pretty damn impressive, 0.98PPG. He was a top-10 center in the league for a couple seasons, won a cup and lead the playoffs in scoring. Not sure what his potential was rated at but he's certainly had a good career.

He looked like he could really become huge after he put up 100 points in his second season.

It was an inflated season for scoring, but he did finish in the top ten for points.

 

[tarheelhockey]

He'll always have the taste of a guy who left some of his potential on the table.

It's not entirely his fault. The 2010-2015 era for the Canes was horribly depressing. Everything seemed to blow up in their faces, and he was the guy who had to shoulder the weight of those disappointments.

That said, I've rarely seen a player check-out as egregiously as he did. He spent a LOT of time floating around and pouting. There were a LOT of shifts where the puck would skitter inches beyond his reach after he'd take a coupe of half-hearted strides and lunge at it. It got really bad toward the end, and so it's hard not to play the "what could have been" game with him. TBH he might have been an effort level away from an actual HHOF case.

 

[Los Patos de Anaheim]

Well he will definitely be a hall of famer, so yes.

 

[LeafChief]

He'll probably crack 1000 points if he stays away from any major injury.

I'd say he lived up to it.

Had a few beastly seasons.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

If you add in all his hardware, he's part of the Triple Gold Club and was the best player on the Canes for most of his time there. Still only 32 and put up 65pts last year, If he wins another Cup then he may sniff the HOF but otherwise, he's a tier lower than Getzlaf, Perry, Carter, Seabrook and others in his draft year. Feel he lived up to the potential franchise Center he was while he played for Carolina. He should hit 1000pts before he hangs them up, 154pts to go, that's (3) 52pt seasons, seems doable.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

He had some more potential that he didn't realize, but he has had a great career.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

He's more or less met realistic expectations IMO.

 

[Morgs]

He was star/elite player for years, and then... Alex Edler happened.

 

[Canucks1096]

Yes he did

From an 8 year stretch pretty much a ppg player. Played on a bad Carolina team for years and still produce those numbers which is really impressive. Carolina GM can never build a good team for him. Kind of wasted his prime. Sure they won in 2006 but the main reason for that they don't advantage of the cap and got a lot of players that other team couldn't afford.

 

[TheOllieC]

Yes absolutely. Not even debatable.

He had like almost a decade of 70pt seasons on a mostly bad team playing with people like Chad LaRose every year.

 

[Lotusflower]

Most disappointing player of the last decade imo.

With a player like Staal's talent in the fold there should have never been talk of relocation. Carolina should have been an entrenched property by now.

He has/had that much ability. There's nothing he cant do he just never brings it.