News Article: Matt Stajan is done in the NHL

[FlareKnight]

Best of luck to him in Europe.

It was a sad day when we had to initially replace Sundin with Stajan. He had a solid career, but he was never a top line guy. Funny enough he did end up playing more of his career in Calgary than in Toronto. Just hung around there for years. Not a great player, but the guy knew how to do what it took to stick around despite rarely putting up many points.

 

[Deebo]

Still convinced we completely ruined an entire generation of decent leafs talent - guys who had produced before the nhl, and guys who were producing to start their nhl careers, and then just fizzled into nothing.

Steen and Stralman were lucky to escape while they could.

Like who?

 

[zeke]

Like who?

Antropov/Steen/Boyes/Wellwood/Stajan/Kulemin/Tlusty/Stralman/Cola/White/Harrison/Rask/Reimer etc.

they shouldn't have been a complete write off for us.

 

[nsleaf]

Antropov/Steen/Boyes/Wellwood/Stajan/Kulemin/Tlusty/Stralman/Cola/White/Harrison/Rask/Reimer etc.

they shouldn't have been a complete write off for us.

True, but those were different times with a different management mindset. It very easy to say coulda,woulda,shoulda after the fact.

 

[BodaciousBeefBazooka]

Pretty sure I mentioned it on this board last season when he played 1000 games. There was a debate going on between my friends and I about whether or not he should be in he Hall of Fame for playing 1000 games.

I know you forgot the

 

[Lauro]

Bad news, Munich was strong enough without him.

 

[nuck]

1000 games and over $30M earned with pretty average NHL skills. Now he goes off the the DEL to be a beer league stud. The Canadian dream. Good for you Mat.

 

[Stephen]

why?
he had 1000 games and a decent career. that's saying a lot. why shudder at that?

Because the rest of the developmental system was so bereft of actual talent that they promoted him at 19 and gave him Dave Keon's number when he came up around 2003. Our many years in the wilderness says a lot about the health of those Quinn era teams.

 

[Wendelstache]

probably the best player in the Phaneuf deal. LOL

 

[SeaOfBlue]

He was pretty good until he was 30. From 31-33 he was capable of being a solid 4C for a bubble team (like Calgary) on and off. Although he was not even worth looking at on a PTO at this point. The Leafs have a lot better, including Jooris. There is also a lot better on the free agency market right now.

He should be a good European player for the next 5 or so years. Playing in Germany is pretty nice, and he'll make some decent money to add to the good amount he's already made. There are a few other players in free agency who should strongly consider the same thing (if not flat out retiring) because they do not have enough left in the tank to play in North America.

 

[Mr Hockey]

Pretty sure I mentioned it on this board last season when he played 1000 games. There was a debate going on between my friends and I about whether or not he should be in he Hall of Fame for playing 1000 games.

He grinded out a nice long career, well done Matt.

 

[Obliviate]

Pretty sure I mentioned it on this board last season when he played 1000 games. There was a debate going on between my friends and I about whether or not he should be in he Hall of Fame for playing 1000 games.

No. He had a good career longevity-wise, but not HOF worthy.

 

[TakeTheBody]

Wont miss him. Luke Schenn's rookie year Stajan would stir it up and have a rookie fight his battles. Playing 1000 games puts you in the HOF now? He probably played 25 of them well. Buh bye Matt

 

[GoldenGOOSE]

Guy grinded out a lot of dough out of the NHL business. Still grinding, whatta guy.

 

[deletethis]

He was a pretty good draft pick. He became NHL ready at 19 largely on his hockey intelligence. In the end he was just precocious not special. He was definitely better than the average late 2nd rounder. I've always wondered whether Calgary's long term commitment to him was about having something to show from the Phaneuf trade.

P.S. If you'd given me the over/under on him scoring more than 1 goal career playoff goal, I would have taken the over.

 

[Brown Dog]

Imagine we actually had proper management back then.

Probably won’t trade away Rask, that’s our No.1 till now.
Stralman, Steen, Stajan....

When you find yourself having these thoughts, just remember that all those mistakes of the past brought us to where we are now.

 

[Brown Dog]

Remember that time Stajan got into a dustup with someone and the official restrained him but kind of in a way like he was protecting him? That was weird. Not sure why I remember that.

 

[francis246]

i remember how devastated he was to have been traded from the Leafs to Calgary. But man we had some decent young guys back in the day. Carlo Coaliacovo, Matt Stajan, Alex Steen, Stralman, Rask, Wellwood, Ian White, Kulemin etc. We drafted really well in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th rounds back then and now we are starting to see it again now.

 

[Gabriel426]

When you find yourself having these thoughts, just remember that all those mistakes of the past brought us to where we are now.

The darkness before the light

 

[Daisy Jane]

Antropov/Steen/Boyes/Wellwood/Stajan/Kulemin/Tlusty/Stralman/Cola/White/Harrison/Rask/Reimer etc.

they shouldn't have been a complete write off for us.

they weren't ruined. sheesh.

 

[klamla]

No. He had a good career longevity-wise, but not HOF worthy.

in your opinion

 

[Obliviate]

in your opinion

I think in most people's opinions.

Games: 1003 Goals:146

Assists: 267

Points: 413

[TFOOT] [/TFOOT]

So you're telling me these are HoF stats? Honestly? Give me a break.

Even Marty Brodeur had 47 career points as goalie!

 

[Buds17]

Pretty sure I mentioned it on this board last season when he played 1000 games. There was a debate going on between my friends and I about whether or not he should be in he Hall of Fame for playing 1000 games.

It'd be the equivalent of playing over 12+ seasons without missing a game, but the point totals aren't where they should be for HOF induction. Nonetheless, it was a good NHL career.

 

[A1LeafNation]

He played more games for the flames than the Leafs. This should be in their forum.

 

[CanadasTeam]

Remember that time Stajan got into a dustup with someone and the official restrained him but kind of in a way like he was protecting him? That was weird. Not sure why I remember that.

I too remember when that happened! I thought it was strange the referee literally cradled him into his arms as if Stajan were his own son lol