Long term: Kopitar or J. Staal

:dunno:

This might be the most repetitive thread of the last 4 months.


And I still love it.

I think that, in order to save many people from rolling their eyes at seeing this again, you could have just gone back to the past other hundred threads and come up with a pretty good idea. :dunno:

Since I'm a homer. Kopitar :D

It wasn't too long ago that alot of people balked at mentioning Staal in the same breath as Kopitar.

still going with the penguin

Clearly the answer is "Micheal" Jordan Staal.

It wasn't too long ago that alot of people balked at mentioning Staal in the same breath as Kopitar.


Captain Save-a-Staal has arrived.

Is there any Staal thread your NOT in ?

Staal>the leafs.

Staal>the leafs.

Oh, that's great.

Because today, the Kings>Nas.

Oh, that's great.

Because today, the Kopitar>Nas.

Fixed it for ya.

Kopitar for me, I love that kid.

Wow the same thread again. Doing these kind of threads during the season is not a good idea because people usually pick the player that is hot at the moment. Like the Kopitar vs. Malkin threads at the beginning of the season. Kopitar now and in the future. Both of them have a very good all around game. I take Kopitar because he does everything you want out of a #1 center. He kills penalties, he sets up his linemates, he carries the puck up the ice and into the zone with ease, and he helps out his defenseman. He played with Dustin brown and Jason freakin Ward last night. Kopitar doesn't even play with Frolov or Cammalleri unless it's on a PP. Opponents play him tighter than they do Frolov. Kings defensman Mattias Norstrom said the most impressive thing about Anze is his defensive play. Both players are very young and both players will continue to improve but I will take Kopitar.

Captain Save-a-Staal has arrived.

Is there any Staal thread your NOT in ?

If there is, it's only because I haven't found it yet. ;)

This might be the most repetitive thread of the last 4 months.


And I still love it.Well i never saw it, otherwise i wouldnt have made another one again.

i'd take kopitar over staal, but its close.

Kopitar.

Kopitar by a pretty large margin

Kopitar by a pretty large margin

You should watch Staal play before talking.Staal does everything including playing SH.He dosen't even play PP and he has 23 goals!!

Kopitar

Kopitar is better.

Staal easily

You should watch Staal play before talking.Staal does everything including playing SH.He dosen't even play PP and he has 23 goals!!ya that is amazing

Kopitar for me.

Too many freaking Staals around here :sarcasm:

staal

You should watch Staal play before talking.Staal does everything including playing SH.He dosen't even play PP and he has 23 goals!!

Kopitar does everything as well including playing on the PK, about 45 seconds difference between the 2 per game. So Staal is a better goal scorer doesnt mean he is a better player overall. Staal is a good young player. To make this a fair comparison Staal would have to be leading his team in ice time for a forward as the #1 center facing top pairings every night. Its is imprssive whats he done from the 3 and 4th lines but the fact is Crosby faces the top defenders night in night out.

Kopitar by a mutha****in landslide!

Kopitar does everything as well including playing on the PK, about 45 seconds difference between the 2 per game. So Staal is a better goal scorer doesnt mean he is a better player overall. Staal is a good young player. To make this a fair comparison Staal would have to be leading his team in ice time for a forward as the #1 center facing top pairings every night. Its is imprssive whats he done from the 3 and 4th lines but the fact is Crosby faces the top defenders night in night out.

This poll is long term. Do you actually think he cant handle it? Look at how he dismantled toronto. The guy is going to be one of the best 2 way players in the league as a 20 year old. Its close but Staal will have a better career.

This poll is long term. Do you actually think he cant handle it? Look at how he dismantled toronto. The guy is going to be one of the best 2 way players in the league as a 20 year old. Its close but Staal will have a better career.


In all seriousness, "dismantling" Toronto is not exactly impressive. Kopitar's best games have been against Anaheim/SJ/Nashville against the top pairings.

This poll is long term. Do you actually think he cant handle it? Look at how he dismantled toronto. The guy is going to be one of the best 2 way players in the league as a 20 year old. Its close but Staal will have a better career.

Until he proves he can handle being the go to guy playing top minutes against top pairings then , no we dont know if he can handle it. Hes spent the majority of the year playing bottom line minutes against bottom pairings. Yes what hes done so far is impressive. To make it close Staal needs to put up assists like Kopitar does. The goals are nice but when you look at his assist totals it doesnt look that good. While he may be the better goal scorer over his career doesnt mean hell be the better player over his career.

This poll is long term. Do you actually think he cant handle it? Look at how he dismantled toronto. The guy is going to be one of the best 2 way players in the league as a 20 year old. Its close but Staal will have a better career.

:help:

You're right. It's incredibly impressive for an 18 y.o. to do that. I have no doubt that Staal will round out to be a very good player in a couple more years. Not that he isn't, already.

However, since it seems like you're trying to lay it down with just that Toronto game in mind, let me add this: Kopitar scored two goals (with Ward being one of the wings, no less) against a Nashville team that is among the top three teams in the entire Western conference. In fact, I think they hold the number one spot, to be exact. Facts don't lie, as is written in the HF Boards Bible.

And it's nice that you think that Staal will - without any further elaboration on your part - be better than Kopitar, bank it. I guess that, too, can also be found in the HF Boards Bible & Holy Gospel.

Anyway. Did you know that almost ninety percent of the time, teams send out their top guns and number one d-group out when Kopitar is on the ice, and not so much when Frolov and Cammalleri - who're both having wonderful seasons - are out there? I'm thinking they're pretty happy to have Kopitar take care of those guys, to give them a bit more room to rack up their points, but what do I know.

Until he proves he can handle being the go to guy playing top minutes against top pairings then , no we dont know if he can handle it. Hes spent the majority of the year playing bottom line minutes against bottom pairings. Yes what hes done so far is impressive. To make it close Staal needs to put up assists like Kopitar does. The goals are nice but when you look at his assist totals it doesnt look that good. While he may be the better goal scorer over his career doesnt mean hell be the better player over his career.

Have you seen Staal play? Seriously, assists? That's all you have?

Don't know if he can handle it, please, the kids game has just been getting better and better since he moved to Malkins line.

I wish there was a way that the Rangers could have nabbed Staal... oh well.

I have to go with Kopitar. I understand that Pens fans think the world of Staal, but Kopitar is just a freak. The games that I've been able to watch of the Kings (just to see Kopitar and some of their others young guys who're looking really good) he's stood out like a glow stick. I was able to catch some of the Nashville game like some have mentioned, and I now understand why people are saying that the twelve gms that didn't take this kid are bitter.

Staal's great too, but Kopitar has so many intangibles that make him just a little better. Let's just say that if I was to start a new franchise I'd pick Kopitar to be the guy, but if I was building on an already a good core of guys, it would be Staal. It's great to have so many young talents like this, the NHL is very lucky. :yo:

Have you seen Staal play? Seriously, assists? That's all you have?

Don't know if he can handle it, please, the kids game has just been getting better and better since he moved to Malkins line.
Do you want me to bring up faceoffs ,blocked shots, hits , take a ways? Kopitar has more giveaways. The fact is Staal isn't the go to guy playing top line minutes facing top line guys. Staal has played a good majority of his season on the bottom lines where as Kopitar has been facing top d pairings from day 1 of the season. Its a bit easier to put up points from the bottom lines having the talent that Staal does than having to face top pairings every night. And until both players are doing that its hard to say that the guy playing the easier minutes with more talented teammates is going to be the better player in his career. Kopitar doesn't have a Malkin and Crosby to take pressure off him. Staal does. Like Ive said before being a better goal scorer than a guy who makes his teammates better doesnt make a player a better player.

Do you want me to bring up faceoffs ,blocked shots, hits , take a ways? Kopitar has more giveaways.

Staal is shooting 28%. 5 shorties and 3 GWG to Anzes donuts. 10% of Staals points are on the PP, Anze 40%. Staal does all of his work ES. Those stats are easier to rack up when you have played twice as much than the other guy most of the year.

The fact is Staal isn't the go to guy playing top line minutes facing top line guys. Staal has played a good majority of his season on the bottom lines where as Kopitar has been facing top d pairings from day 1 of the season.

This is mainly because of the age difference, IMO. Next season i'd imagine Staal will be playing top six minutes every night. The Penguins were taking it slow with him and it has paid off in that he hasn't hit the rookie wall. Whether that is do to his strength also is as probable. He is a horse.

Its a bit easier to put up points from the bottom lines having the talent that Staal does than having to face top pairings every night.

And ever since being put on the second line he has been scoring alot more than he was earlier this season.

And until both players are doing that its hard to say that the guy playing the easier minutes with more talented teammates is going to be the better player in his career. Kopitar doesn't have a Malkin and Crosby to take pressure off him. Staal does. Like Ive said before being a better goal scorer than a guy who makes his teammates better doesnt make a player a better player.

Maybe, but Staal doesn't need to be a playmaker, so you can't hold it against him. Also, he has made Malkin and Ouellet much better players since they all joined up.

Anze is a year older. I didn't think Staal would be here all season, let alone be on pace for 35 goals. Next year is when people should really compare these two.

Staal is shooting 28%. 5 shorties and 3 GWG to Anzes donuts. 10% of Staals points are on the PP, Anze 40%. Staal does all of his work ES. Those stats are easier to rack up when you have played twice as much than the other guy most of the year.



This is mainly because of the age difference, IMO. Next season i'd imagine Staal will be playing top six minutes every night. The Penguins were taking it slow with him and it has paid off in that he hasn't hit the rookie wall. Whether that is do to his strength also is as probable. He is a horse.



And ever since being put on the second line he has been scoring alot more than he was earlier this season.



Maybe, but Staal doesn't need to be a playmaker, so you can't hold it against him. Also, he has made Malkin and Ouellet much better players since they all joined up.

Anze is a year older. I didn't think Staal would be here all season, let alone be on pace for 35 goals. Next year is when people should really compare these two.

Don't wear yourself out ;).

Kings fans were adamant that Kopitar was a better player than Malkin for a good portion of the year too, but that talk's quieted down some of late. We'll just have to remember to bring up this thread in a year or two, and bring several helpings of crow in tow for the Malkin and Staal snubs.

Staal is shooting 28%. 5 shorties and 3 GWG to Anzes donuts. 10% of Staals points are on the PP, Anze 40%. Staal does all of his work ES. Those stats are easier to rack up when you have played twice as much than the other guy most of the year.



This is mainly because of the age difference, IMO. Next season i'd imagine Staal will be playing top six minutes every night. The Penguins were taking it slow with him and it has paid off in that he hasn't hit the rookie wall. Whether that is do to his strength also is as probable. He is a horse.



And ever since being put on the second line he has been scoring alot more than he was earlier this season.


Maybe, but Staal doesn't need to be a playmaker, so you can't hold it against him. Also, he has made Malkin and Ouellet much better players since they all joined up.

Anze is a year older. I didn't think Staal would be here all season, let alone be on pace for 35 goals. Next year is when people should really compare these two.

Staal has a better shooting % because 1. because hes a better shooter 2. Kopitar shoots to create when he has no other option.

Its not hard to imagine him scoring more playing on a line where hes still not the main focus. And thats the whole point some are trying to make. Staal doesnt face top d pairings game in game out like Kopitar does because Staal isn't the main cog in the offense. Hes the 3rd or 4th option. And in this case thats not a knock on him because of who is on his team. Fact is , is that these 2 will never be able to fully be compared to each other while Staal is on the Pens. Kopitar is most likely never going to have a Crosby AND Malkin playing ahead of him. And if you dont think that having 2 players like that effects your totals I don't know what else to say.

Don't wear yourself out ;).

Kings fans were adamant that Kopitar was a better player than Malkin for a good portion of the year too, but that talk's quieted down some of late. We'll just have to remember to bring up this thread in a year or two, and bring several helpings of crow in tow for the Malkin and Staal snubs.

Some were but some have also said that Malkin is the better player but the gap isnt as big as some Pens fans like say it is. As far as I see noone is really snubbing Staal. What Staal is doing is impressive no doubt but hes doing it as a 3rd or 4th option on his team. Kopitar is doing as the #1 guy on his team. Thats why most of those that are picking Kopitar are doing so. Its his all around game that some seemingly dont want to admit he has. He does the little things just like Staal , racking up more assists while Staal puts up better goal scoring. Its the all around package that Kopitar is showing that has people picking him.

Some were but some have also said that Malkin is the better player but the gap isnt as big as some Pens fans like say it is. As far as I see noone is really snubbing Staal. What Staal is doing is impressive no doubt but hes doing it as a 3rd or 4th option on his team. Kopitar is doing as the #1 guy on his team. Thats why most of those that are picking Kopitar are doing so. Its his all around game that some seemingly dont want to admit he has. He does the little things just like Staal , racking up more assists while Staal puts up better goal scoring. Its the all around package that Kopitar is showing that has people picking him.

There's no need to wear yourself out. ;)

I guess we'll have to have this thread bookmarked for future use, when Jordan fully evolves into a 100 pt. player of the likes no has ever seen, and never will.

Objectivity is for dorks, anyway, right?

Don't wear yourself out ;).

Kings fans were adamant that Kopitar was a better player than Malkin for a good portion of the year too, but that talk's quieted down some of late. We'll just have to remember to bring up this thread in a year or two, and bring several helpings of crow in tow for the Malkin and Staal snubs.

Then, perhaps, it might end up being true the other way around in a year or two. You’re assuming more than you are proving.

It makes it difficult not to generalize Pens fans when the vast majority that have posted in this thread are so single-minded with their readily donned on rose-colored glasses.

I don’t know what kind of condiments you’ll like with your crow, but I’m sure there’ll be salt and pepper to add a little spice. ;)

It's just that - first it was Malkin the Mighty, and now it's Staal the Savior. There's a lot of reaching and riding going on, and it all appears to be done in the passing.

Well due to the fact that I'll only get to see Kopitar play the Pens once every 500 years or so and that nobody within a 100 mile radius of me get's Versus....I couldn't tell you.

Then, perhaps, it might end up being true the other way around in a year or two. You’re assuming more than you are proving.

It makes it difficult not to generalize Pens fans when the vast majority that have posted in this thread are so single-minded with their readily donned on rose-colored glasses.

I don’t know what kind of condiments you’ll like with your crow, but I’m sure there’ll be salt and pepper to add a little spice. ;)

It's just that - first it was Malkin the Mighty, and now it's Staal the Savior. There's a lot of reaching and riding going on, and it all appears to be done in the passing.

There's very little that can be proved over the internets when talking about someone's game outside of rattling off statistics.

As far as I'm concerned, both have similar potential at this point, though that's something that was denied quite often earlier in the year by those who either didn't watch Jordan much, can't appreciate what a feat it is to do what he's doing at 18, or are easily swayed by a few numbers.

Before, it was near sacrilege to suggest he and Kopitar were close.

Now, they can be mentioned as comparable without anyone batting an eye.

And as I said last year regarding Crosby, development between the ages of 18 and 19, and 19 and 20, are huge. Ovechkin fans didn't believe me last season, and Kopitar fans don't believe me this season.

There's very little that can be proved over the internets when talking about someone's game outside of rattling off statistics.

As far as I'm concerned, both have similar potential at this point, though that's something that was denied quite often earlier in the year by those who either didn't watch Jordan much, can't appreciate what a feat it is to do what he's doing at 18, or are easily swayed by a few numbers.
Before, it was near sacrilege to suggest he and Kopitar were close.

Now, they can be mentioned as comparable without anyone batting an eye.

And as I said last year regarding Crosby, development between the ages of 18 and 19, and 19 and 20, are huge. Ovechkin fans didn't believe me last season, and Kopitar fans don't believe me this season.

The same can be said for things that have been said about Kopitar. Its amazing how in the last month that hes started scoring he gets compared to everyone. Now that hes been hot for a month hes all of a sudden going to be a better player. When it comes down to numbers its the fact that Kopitar does the little things that Staal supposedly does so much better while scoring 7 less goals but adding 28 more assists. And all while doing against top pairings every night.

I believe you about the development. We as Kings fans see it with Kopitar. Guy put up 20 pts in 47 games lasy year in the SEL as an 18 yr old. Now hes got 50 in the NHL with alot of games left. About the only adjustment hes had to make here is to the smaller rink. And believe or not Kopitar still has alot of developing to do as well.

And as I said last year regarding Crosby, development between the ages of 18 and 19, and 19 and 20, are huge. Ovechkin fans didn't believe me last season, and Kopitar fans don't believe me this season.

And yet you weren't mentioning this when comparing Kopitar and Malkin on the Kings board. :dunno:

I appreciated your levity in that thread towards tempering King's fans pro-Kopitar zeal (which at root was just the same argument that you're trying to make in this thread - i.e. that the difference between Kopitar and Malikin wasn't as great as Pens fans thought, but now in regards to Kopitar/Stall), but at this point the double-standards are numerous and redundant.

Name one thing Stall does better than Kopitar. Kill penalties?

Name one thing Stall does better than Kopitar. Kill penalties?

You speak as if his ability to kill penalties so well at his age is nonessential and insignificant.

You speak as if his ability to kill penalties so well at his age is nonessential and insignificant.

It's not insignificant but it's not something that Kopitar can't do. Kopitar is also a very good penalty killer for his age but Staal is better. That is what he saying.

Staal

i think he will become aaaa superstarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

And yet you weren't mentioning this when comparing Kopitar and Malkin on the Kings board. :dunno:

I appreciated your levity in that thread towards tempering King's fans pro-Kopitar zeal (which at root was just the same argument that you're trying to make in this thread - i.e. that the difference between Kopitar and Malikin wasn't as great as Pens fans thought, but now in regards to Kopitar/Stall), but at this point the double-standards are numerous and redundant.

Name one thing Stall does better than Kopitar. Kill penalties?

I wouldn't say I have any double-standards. The age difference between Kopitar and Malkin is a factor too, but I'm not sure why I'd have to mention that on the Kings thread, unless I found it terribly amusing to be redundant and preach to the choir. Malkin dominated the 2nd best league in the world last season at Kopitar's age, and I just don't think that Kopi could do that this year. :dunno:

Kopitar spent a year developing in the SEL before coming to the NHL, but Staal never had that buffer zone; he went straight from junior to the NHL. That's the difference.

At this point, Staal's a better goal-scorer than Kopitar, and Anze's a better playmaker. I'd say that their PKing is fairly close, maybe Staal having a slight advantage. Next year, we'll re-evaluate when both are a little more situated.

For now, as a Pens fan, I wouldn't trade Staal for Kopitar, as I'm sure Kings fans wouldn't trade Kopitar for Staal.

I just wish Kopitar had a guy that would set him up every other night or so. All of Kopitars goals are off self made scoring chances. You never really see anybody ever make a play and dish off the goal to Kopitar.

Not to sound like a homer, but earlier in the season the kings were up by a goal or two and kopitar passed the puck to a teammate for the empty netter instead of taking it for himself. He did get the assist though...lol

I just wish Kopitar had a guy that would set him up every other night or so. All of Kopitars goals are off self made scoring chances. You never really see anybody ever make a play and dish off the goal to Kopitar.

Not to sound like a homer, but earlier in the season the kings were up by a goal or two and kopitar passed the puck to a teammate for the empty netter instead of taking it for himself. He did get the assist though...lol

Funny you mention that because Staal did the exact same thing. One game he passed for the EN. Another game he wanted to pass to Ouelett(during the streak) and couldnt so he just took it himself. Staal>Kopitar!

Funny you mention that because Staal did the exact same thing. One game he passed for the EN. Another game he wanted to pass to Ouelett(during the streak) and couldnt so he just took it himself. Staal>Kopitar!

wasn't comparing anybody to anybody else. Short man sydrome i see...

Your in a thread comparing players... and i just did it. Staal did the same thing so it was pretty pointless. It looks like you have 'Look at me I cannot spell syndrome!'

Staal easily

Kopitar all the way.

Anze easily

Your in a thread comparing players... and i just did it. Staal did the same thing so it was pretty pointless. It looks like you have 'Look at me I cannot spell syndrome!'

You're in a thread and the best thing you can do is childish </> comparisons and attempting to correct my spelling when it was obvious that it was just a missed key stroke.

I guess this is what HF gets when the schools have a holiday.