Did Eric Staal Live up to His Potential?

[Senor Catface]

He definitely lived up to his potential... at times.

Basically, pre-Edler hit, it seemed like Staal was able to just physically take a game over whenever he had the drive to do so, and it really showed in the playoffs where he had 2 outstanding runs, especially 09 where he and Cam Ward (before Ward's back injury vs the Penguins) carried that team to the conference finals.

Totally.

I always find it confusing and surprising how many people don't realize how often and how much injuries affect a player physically and mentally.

Over and over people talk about how a player isn't the guy he used to be and he just mails it in all the time, when the explanation behind a change in play goes much deeper than just deciding he doesn't care.

If I was suffering post-injuries symptoms after being plowed into a corner or destroyed mid-ice, there has to be part of me that subconsciously is saying, "uhhhh, let's ease up here.." the next time that situation arises.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Totally.

I always find it confusing and surprising how many people don't realize how often and how much injuries affect a player physically and mentally.

Over and over people talk about how a player isn't the guy he used to be and he just mails it in all the time, when the explanation behind a change in play goes much deeper than just deciding he doesn't care.

If I was suffering post-injuries symptoms after being plowed into a corner or destroyed mid-ice, there has to be part of me that subconsciously is saying, "uhhhh, let's ease up here.." the next time that situation arises.

You're not wrong, but in Staal's case specifically there's nothing about a knee injury that would cause a player to carelessly lose the puck, flop to try and draw a penalty, get back to one knee and yell at the ref as play heads up ice, lug himself back up to his feet, drift listlessly back toward his own zone, and watch from the high slot as his opposing center scored wide open.

Canes fans saw plenty of that from Eric over a period of years before he was traded. It was more than just recovery from an injury, although that definitely did play a role in derailing his momentum at the time.

 

[Senor Catface]

You're not wrong, but in Staal's case specifically there's nothing about a knee injury that would cause a player to carelessly lose the puck, flop to try and draw a penalty, get back to one knee and yell at the ref as play heads up ice, lug himself back up to his feet, drift listlessly back toward his own zone, and watch from the high slot as his opposing center scored wide open.

Canes fans saw plenty of that from Eric over a period of years before he was traded. It was more than just recovery from an injury, although that definitely did play a role in derailing his momentum at the time.

Yeah, I'm not really in the know of the long term evolution of Staal...it was more a generalized comment on the affect of injuries on players over time.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Yeah, I'm not really in the know of the long term evolution of Staal...it was more a generalized comment on the affect of injuries on players over time.

In general I agree. There's a lot of mythology out there about "trying harder" being the solution to everything in sports. It's parallel to the magic of "confidence" which is somehow the key factor in every single player's season. I guess there's just a natural inclination to personalize things and make everything a matter of willpower.

 

[Aladyyn]

Might be the most underrated player of the last 10 years.

 

[HisIceness]

The year Staal and Semin on the same line together for the first time was also the year that the 'Canes iced arguably the worst crop of d-men in the NHL since the 2005 lockout. Our best player that year was a young, developing and often mistake-prone Justin Faulk who IIRC played about a quarter of that actual 48-game season in Charlotte. Other blue-liners included a downward trending Jay Harrison who had been the teams best blue-liner the previous season, Way past his prime Joe Corvo and Tim Gleason, AHLer Bobby Sanguinetti, and 13 useless games from Marc-Andre Bergeron.

 

[Not So Mighty]

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 us small market fans don't understand the game. We can't recognize laziness. And agreed, laziness is the explanation for any player that likes playing in small markets.

 

[Melrose Munch]

Yeah us small market fans don't understand the game. We can't recognize laziness. And agreed, laziness is the explanation for any player that likes playing in small markets.

Since when was Anaheim small market?


And that comment has nothing to do with the fans, more the players who hide from canadian media criticism.

 

[glovesave_35]

Since when was Anaheim small market?

Anaheim may be part of one of the largest markets in the U.S. but in terms of hockey it is a type of small market team.

And that comment has nothing to do with the fans, more the players who hide from canadian media criticism.

That comment had tons to do with the fans. "Don't get noticed playing lazy" is a clear poke in two directions, 1. total number of fans, and 2. hockey IQ of the fans that are watching.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Nope.

All of the Staal's are overrated.

 

[Melrose Munch]

Anaheim may be part of one of the largest markets in the U.S. but in terms of hockey it is a type of small market team.

Fault of the owners. Budget is self imposed.

That comment had tons to do with the fans. "Don't get noticed playing lazy" is a clear poke in two directions, 1. total number of fans, and 2. hockey IQ of the fans that are watching.

Now that I look again, I see what you're talking about, but for me, it's always been about the players more then the market itself. Guys like Rick Nash (and staal apparently) who don't want to play in Canada.

 

[Elephant Igloo]

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

That's grim. Come on, Canada, health care should be for everyone, not the Hockey Hall of Fame.

 

[Not So Mighty]

Since when was Anaheim small market?

Since 1993.

Fault of the owners. Budget is self imposed.

Budget is self imposed because of the small market......

And that comment has nothing to do with the fans, more the players who hide from canadian media criticism.

The comment literally says that lazy play will go unnoticed in a small market so unless we are closing our eyes, that comment does have to do with fans as well as media.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I personally think the problem with the perception of Eric was a few things. Most notably, his contract. He was paid to be "the guy", but honestly, I think he was better suited to be riding shotgun vs. driving the car. When things went well, Eric was dominant and would put the team on his back, but when things went sour, he just didn't seem to have what it took to pull the team out of it. Maybe he "gripped the stick" too tight and made it worse? Who knows for sure, but there were extended slumps that tanked many a season before it started.

Secondly, his contract (and Ward's contract) was so large that it prevented a budget team from adding quality players around him. Add that to Rutherford's terrible record at drafting/developing players that could contribute on the cheap and it led to guys like Tlusty and Chad LaRose on the top line.

Thirdly, Eric at times just didn't appear to give the effort that you'd want to see. Maybe some of that was perception, but it was noted by many fans and always left you with a feeling that he could do more.

Lastly, the game changed. Staal isn't a guy with any true elite talent but when he was younger, he could blow by defensemen and drive to the net. The NHL doesn't really have any defensemen like Hal Gil, Bryan Allen, Tim Gleason, etc... so as he's aged and maybe lost a half of a step, the league has gotten faster. He's changed his game to adapt to this, but it did take away a key element of his early success.

Still, even with all that, he put up 70+ points in 8 straight seasons (counting his 53 in 48GP in the lockout shortened season). He rarely missed a game, even when injured. In his last 4 seasons, when in his late 20s and 30s, he still has put up 54, 61 and 65 points in 3 of those 4.

> 1000 games, > 350 goals, > 850 points all while playing on some pretty bad teams? Hard to argue that he hasn't lived up to his potential honestly. Nobody from his draft has more GP, more goals scored, or more points scored than Eric Staal.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Nobody from his draft has more GP, more goals scored, or more points scored than Eric Staal.

That's really saying something, considering the strength of that particular draft.

The players after Staal on the points list are Getzlaf, Perry, Vanek, Bergeron, Parise, Carter, Pavelski. Pretty good company.

 

[DANOZ28]

if you were a stud player at some point wouldn't you get frustrated mgmt didnt do more to make your team competitive?

 

[Blueline Bomber]

He was handed the captaincy when he wasn't captain material, his slow starts often came back and bit the team in the ass at the end of the year, and his effort on any given night could be world-beater or almost literally non-existent.

He lived up to his draft ranking, in terms of point production, but did he live up to his potential? Not even close. The Eric Staal that showed up on most nights, especially at the end of his career in Carolina, was not an Eric Staal playing to his potential.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

He was handed the captaincy when he wasn't captain material, his slow starts often came back and bit the team in the ass at the end of the year, and his effort on any given night could be world-beater or almost literally non-existent.

He lived up to his draft ranking, in terms of point production, but did he live up to his potential? Not even close. The Eric Staal that showed up on most nights, especially at the end of his career in Carolina, was not an Eric Staal playing to his potential.

It's disappointing he wasn't able to become a better leader especially being mentored directly by Brind'Amour and I'm sure Francis as well. The posts about Staal being better riding shotgun are absolutely correct. The problem is he was the star of the team and once Rod's body started to break down there was no one else who could really take over the 'C'. They probably should have just left it vacant but again at that point, it was Staal's team for better or worse.

It's a real shame about Brindy's injury in the 2007/2008 season. He was playing some of his best hockey but he just wasn't the same after he tore the ACL in his left knee. He was definitely the type of player you could see doing a Chelios or Jagr due to his drive and fitness.