Sutter struggled today, too, but I watched Staal be invisible a lot in my days. It happens.
I just had a horrible thought... what if the problem isn't the player but the way the coach expects the 3C to fit into the system? I don't know if that's reasonable given Staal's glacial release and puck fumbling (can't put that on Disco and that -most of the time- was the biggest complaint I had about him), but he's off to a pretty good start in Carolina playing with Skinner.
Hoping Bylsma isn't trying to "reign in" or "train" Sutter to fit his proto-grinder mold. That kid should be free to make some plays / make some things happen out there too, not just play D. He's got decent wheels and mobility, better hands than Staal, but maybe not better offensive instincts. So in the end it might end up a wash (which is fine because we didn't lose Staal for nothing by a long shot).
Wish the Shero bashers would recognize how big of a deal that was. We very nearly got 0 for Jordan Staal... especially with the lockout risk etc. Shero did a nice job there and made a big offer to Parise and Suter but didn't get his guys because PA is not MN. Simple as that. And the rest of those guys (Semin, et al) he didn't believe in or didn't want ot over-pay for going into the new CBA (Doan). Personally I give the man an A- for his summer's efforts. And no way he's done; he'll make a move within a month or so here. He won't wait to the deadline because it's too close to the post-season. If a GM is worried about getting home ice, they have to make moves early this year.