- Oct 31, 2007
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His defense has definitely improved. Staal is one of two players since the invention of the stat to score 100 points and still end up a minus- in his 05-06 season. He was heavily sheltered at ES, with Brind'Amour and Matt Cullen getting the harder assignments.
He used to be brutal defensively because he was young and unused to the speed of the NHL game. Now it is mostly an effort issue (which most people seem to understand).
So he was brutal defensively because of youth, and now he's brutal defensively because of effort.
...How is that an improvement? If anything, that sounds like he had the opportunity to improve his defensive game while the other two took the tougher assignments and it just never happened.
As for scoring, Staal has maintained a very consistent level (75-80 points) since 06-07 despite league wide scoring going down thanks to less powerplays called. As for his offensive game itself, have you forgotten the days of Captain Wrap-Around?
I don't really consider "Don't perform a wrap around every other offensive zone shift" an improvement rather than simple common sense, but I suppose if you want to label it as that, you're not incorrect.
As for how he has grown as a leader, unless you have had access to the locker room for the better part of the last decade, how the **** could you make a conclusion on something like that?
You're right. I only have access to what's being shown on the ice and what's being said in interviews. Well, and the occasional inside connection that comes with the job.
But since it's been said that Staal is the kind of leader that "leads by example on the ice", he can be judged as a leader by his actions on the ice. On most nights, his actions on the ice aren't one of a leader.