I'm very happy he's making me eat crow. I was disappointed when we signed him, especially after lackluster tenures by older stars past their prime in Heatley and Vanek. Thought he'd be in the same vein as those two. But things are working well right now, and so far he's been nothing but quality signing.
Eric Staal in Minnesota
- Thread starter crossicepass
- Start date
One of those "change of scenery" moves that worked out, i guess. We were all totally expecting him to be slow based on reactions to the signing--pretty reasonably as this is a fanbase that had experienced Heatley and Vanek tenures here--but after the first game Wild fan comments everywhere were like "What the?! He's not slow? He's not slow!"
We'll see though. If the wild hit one of their major slumps this year maybe that worn-down looking Staal Carolina fans were talking about will show up. I hope not. Still was a good signing.
We'll see though. If the wild hit one of their major slumps this year maybe that worn-down looking Staal Carolina fans were talking about will show up. I hope not. Still was a good signing.
Well, he doesn't have to be " the" guy, as Koivu is the other top 6 C and Captain. Staal has got to play with Parise, Nino, and Coyle, for the most part. The latter two are young, talented, and strong. They do a lot of the grunt work, though Staal is by no means lazy. That line together can be flat out dominant possessing the puck in the O zone. Don't know what he had to work with in CAR.
He has also had a lot of breakaways...scored on some, but missed a lot. Could have had 3 or 4 more goals with a reasonable conversion of those chances.
Was a guy I had hoped the Avs would sign.
Knew last season was just a down year for him and that he'd bounce back. Would've been a much better signing compared to Colborne who has been awful.
Knew last season was just a down year for him and that he'd bounce back. Would've been a much better signing compared to Colborne who has been awful.
featherhawk
Registered User
- Dec 13, 2006
- 14,244
- 4,970
Staal also being 7 hour drive from thunder bay was, always going to be advantagous as well. He knows minneaota pretty well
Ole Gil
Registered User
- May 9, 2009
- 5,703
- 8,897
You could see this coming by the way Eric was dominating the puck in Carolina. Bill Peters has some wacky ideas about how to play offense, and I think Staal's point totals suffered.
New York was just a mess. He may have played every spot in the lineup in 20 games.
Glad to see him back playing the game I think he plays best in Minnesota.
New York was just a mess. He may have played every spot in the lineup in 20 games.
Glad to see him back playing the game I think he plays best in Minnesota.
BagHead
Registered User
Yeah, I don't think there's any way in H. E. double hockey sticks that they don't protect Granlund. The organization loves him, and while he may not score quite as much as we'd hoped he would, he does everything else very well, and the scoring has picked up a bit this season to the point that I think he may end up being a 60 point player at least once in his career, while playing a very good two way game.
I think Vegas will have a difficult decision to make when they hit Minnesota on the list. Zucker, the hometown kid, or Scandella/Dumba, a legitimate and young top 4 defensemen. Either way, it sucks for the Wild.
On topic: Staal has quickly become one of my favorite players on the team. The guy hustles every night and scores as a result. Second best forward on the team. For his price tag, that's more than I was expecting.
He was rocking it for that post game interview. I think having him around for the Playoffs will help. He's one of 3? players on the Wild to make it past the second round of the Playoffs, and the only one to win a Cup.
Vasilevskiy
The cat will be back
Uncle Scrooge
Hockey Bettor
His big contract expired, he was playing the worst hockey of his life and he realized he has to get in a better shape if he wants to stay relevant in this league, not getting any younger.
Simple as that. It's one of those crossroads for players, you either become motivated and work really hard during the summer, or slowly fade away from the NHL.
Simple as that. It's one of those crossroads for players, you either become motivated and work really hard during the summer, or slowly fade away from the NHL.
NoQuitInNewMexico
Registered User
I didn't hate the trade to the Rangers because a big body, a great possession player and a longtime team captain were all good things to add to a "win now" team that wasn't winning. Actually fitting him into the lineup was a mess though, with Stepan-Brassard-Hayes one of our only real strengths was center depth and it made for a lot of weird shuffling, I don't think we really had lines when he was here.
Surprised he's putting up those numbers but not surprised he's beating expectations
Surprised he's putting up those numbers but not surprised he's beating expectations
crossicepass
Registered User
- Sep 7, 2008
- 609
- 99
Calad
Section 422
woah woah...
what he does do is keep us from complaining about centers. we were legitimately worried it'd keep us out of the playoffs. I think he makes us a legitimate playoff team instead of a bubble team.
SpookyTsuki
Registered User
- Dec 3, 2014
- 15,916
- 671
SpookyTsuki
Registered User
- Dec 3, 2014
- 15,916
- 671
As of right now that's completely false. That would be vanek easily. And that's just one I know. Could find better if I searched
no, he isn't. He's playing like a 1st line C. And scoring like one.
We know Vanek, AKA "Vanish" pretty well around these parts. Staal is better than he ever was here.
The more you post about this subject, the more you'll show your ignorance.
Anglesmith
Setting up the play?
The really impressive thing that has surprised the hell out of me is his speed. He was consistently outskating guys when we played them last week. I had just assumed that his decline had had to do with slowing down, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
My question at this point is more why his play dropped off so much given he clearly still has the physical tools.
My question at this point is more why his play dropped off so much given he clearly still has the physical tools.
TommieNation
Registered User
Probably lost the excitement to play the game in Carolina after so many bad seasons
Word out of camp was that he was winning a lot of the skating drills Boudreau was running. Kind of surprising with guys like Haula, Brodin, and Zucker around. He is one of those long striders who looks slow but can actually move pretty good...
I'm betting he was injured a bit, and possibly uninspired the past couple of years. He got healthy this summer, refocused, maybe had his pride hurt a bit by the lack of offers during FA.
ZiGOODejad
intangibles
- Nov 30, 2013
- 5,371
- 1,563
Staal was on our third line and he was extremely slow slow as **** slow sloth slow
By FAR? Do you ever get out of your basement in Chomedy?
Radulov RW 25gp 5g 16a 5.75M/yr.
Staal (C) 26gp 6g 12a 3.5M/yr
Staal plays a more demanding defensive position, and does it quite well. Looks to me that the bang for the buck is clearly in Staal's favor. Good luck re-signing Radulov for next year!
amjay13
Registered User
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