More on Jordan Staal

[Kirk- NEHJ]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/columnist.jsp?content=20060407_103250_5284

Click to read more...

 

[badrobot101]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/columnist.jsp?content=20060407_103250_5284

He's been pretty quiet in the OHL playoffs so far: 1 goal, 3 assists.

Anybody know if there's a reason for this? Is he playing a checking role? Is he being checked thoroughly by a shut-down specialist?

I promised some guy on this board that Staal was a sure-fire superstar, and now I'm a little worried that I may have misled a dude I've never met. Bummer.

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

He's been pretty quiet in the OHL playoffs so far: 1 goal, 3 assists.

Anybody know if there's a reason for this? Is he playing a checking role? Is he being checked thoroughly by a shut-down specialist?

I promised some guy on this board that Staal was a sure-fire superstar, and now I'm a little worried that I may have misled a dude I've never met. Bummer.

I'll back you up on that one. If Jordan doesn't pan out, I'll take the heat for you.

 

[LuLuBelle]

he gets double teamed a lot

 

[badrobot101]

I'll back you up on that one. If Jordan doesn't pan out, I'll take the heat for you.

You're the best, man!

 

[hawksfan50]

It is amazing that Jordan singles out his shot as his biggest weakness--that was one of ERIC STAAL's best attributes that made him so special--I had pointed out all season long my concerns about Jordan's shot and whether he could ever develop it like Eric or not...In the Petes previous series with the 67's we saw only 1 goal from him that was a result of the kind of shot he must develop if he ecer hopes to be as prolific as Eric as a goal scorer...Jordan's totals in the playoffs so far show 4g and 1a =5pts in 9GP ...not exactly scintilallting ....Peter Mueller has 4g+4a=8pts and +6 in 7GP for Everett in his playoffs to date,so that may raise his stock back into a 5th overall pick and perhaps Staal won't rise higher than 4th overall pick---but while both a big centres,Staal is the bigger of the two and looks still to me to be a boy in a man's body as the article states--if he ever does adjust to his size and becomes smoother,if he develops that shot better,then he'll be a good one--right now he still is a bit of a project--but you cannot teach skating speed and he is faster tham Mueller ...both seemed far less advanced than Kessel,Toews and Backstrom as I compared my impressions of them that i witnessed --but perhaps Mueller from his great playoffs so far has begun his adjustment to his size faster than Staal has to this point... so the problem for a team picking Staal is this: you ether believe he will ultimately adjust into his big body and then dominate --or you think he never can be a great scorer because he just doesn't have Eric's great shot
now and he may never develop it...plus he also stinks at face-offs at this juncture (so did Mueller--what I saw of him mid-year at the Top prospects Game)...Both then are works in progress,but maybe Mueller has improved more since mid-year--that doesn't mean Staal won't catch fire next season --this is what makes drafting not an exact science,but a guessing game that sometimes pans out,other times falls flat.

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

he also stinks at face-offs at this juncture

So does Joe Thornton. Last night April 10, Joe won five of 22 faceoffs against the Coyotes. I think faceoffs are important, but sometimes too much emphasis can be placed on them, such as when evaluating prospects. There are other skills that are way more important and can have a more significant impact on the game that the ability to win faceoffs. Besides, it's a skill that can be learned.

Back in 1977, the Montreal Canadiens had a chance to draft Mike Bossy, but they were concerned about his defensive shortcomings. So they drafted Mark Napier, who they thought would be a better two-way player. Besides, Napier could fly.

Bossy falls to the Islanders and their scouts tell Arbour about Bossy's weakness. He tells them: "We'll teach him to play defence."

Bossy went on to score 573 goals in 752 games. Napier had a very respectable career that included two 40-goal seasons, but he was no Mike Bossy.

My point: teams will not be that concerned that Staal doesn't seem to be very good on faceoffs. (What are his numbers by the way? I've only seen hearsay on message forums that he's no good)

 

[bluef0x*]

So does Joe Thornton. Last night April 10, Joe won five of 22 faceoffs against the Coyotes. I think faceoffs are important, but sometimes too much emphasis can be placed on them, such as when evaluating prospects. There are other skills that are way more important and can have a more significant impact on the game that the ability to win faceoffs. Besides, it's a skill that can be learned.

I agree that faceoffs are overrated... by you just did the silliest thing by using a sample size of 1. Thornton has won 51.5% of his faceoffs all year... putting him at 35th in the NHL. Not to mention, there's a lot more to faceoffs than just winning, it's what you do after you win or lose it. Thornton has been great and is so dangerous in the opponents faceoff circles. Numerous times he wins it and the other night just completely breezes past defenders to dump it to Cheechoo for a goal.

I do agree with you on that FO% is overrated... but don't quote the smallest of samples to prove your point.

 

[vcx*]

That Staal family has some crazy bloodlines.

 

[KH1]

I have absolutely no problem with Staal struggling in the playoffs. I'm rooting for him to fall to the Islanders

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

you just did the silliest thing by using a sample size of 1. Thornton has won 51.5% of his faceoffs all year... putting him at 35th in the NHL. Not to mention, there's a lot more to faceoffs than just winning, it's what you do after you win or lose it. Thornton has been great and is so dangerous in the opponents faceoff circles. Numerous times he wins it and the other night just completely breezes past defenders to dump it to Cheechoo for a goal.

I do agree with you on that FO% is overrated... but don't quote the smallest of samples to prove your point.

You're absolutely right that one is too small a sample size. I wasn't trying to say that Joe Thornton was bad at faceoffs, though. Perhaps I didn't explain myself very well.

I've read many posters say that Jordan Staal is bad on faceoffs. Some are quoting hearsay and some are saying that after seeing him for only one game. You can't get an accurate read on a player's abilities from just one game.

That's why I was asking if anyone knew what Jordan Staal's winning percentage on faceoffs was because that would be a much better indicator. Just like Joe Thornton's 51 per cent success rate on the season makes his 22 per cent success rate against Phoenix last night an aberration.

Fair enough, BluefOx?

 

[badrobot101]

I have absolutely no problem with Staal struggling in the playoffs. I'm rooting for him to fall to the Islanders

It just occurred to me that he's playing against his brother Marc right now. The Petes and Wolves are going into overtime, and Marc - a defenseman - has two assists, while Jordan has nothing.

Marc is a year older, and is an incredible performer, and probably is out every shift against Jords. Since they played each other everyday as kids, he probably has good anticipation over what JS will do. That might explain the quiet series that the boy is having.

Sorry though, Henry: I'd say it's nigh on impossible for Jords to go to NYI. Unless you lose all your remaining games and win the draft lottery again.

 

[CapitalGoodie]

He's been pretty quiet in the OHL playoffs so far: 1 goal, 3 assists.

Anybody know if there's a reason for this? Is he playing a checking role? Is he being checked thoroughly by a shut-down specialist?

I promised some guy on this board that Staal was a sure-fire superstar, and now I'm a little worried that I may have misled a dude I've never met. Bummer.

Jordan's role with the Pete's has changed ever since they traded for Downie. For starters, for the most part (not all the time) Staal doesn't get a chance to play with Ryder anymore. Before Downie, those two were the offense of the Pete's. Now the big line is normally Downie and Ryder with Jordan as the second line centre.

I've seen him play numerous times this season and three times thus far in the OHL playoffs. He's played well, but has not been as confident with the puck as he was mid-way through the season. He's still playing great two-way hockey but he isn't seeing the PP as often and clearly isn't on the scoring line anymore, through no fault of his own. It just worked out better for the Pete's to match up Downie-and Ryder on the number one unit and leave Jordan on the second line. In that capacity Jordan's line has off-and-on been used as the match-up against other teams best lines thus far in the OHL playoffs.

Oh, and for whoever said he's getting double teamed, that's simply not the case. Teams are much more concerned with shutting down the Ryder/Downie combo and getting their top lines away from Jordan.