It might have taken 400+ games at the NHL level, but Staal is definitely starting to show major signs of improvement in both the consistency and offensive departments.
I've been harsh on him over the past several years because I wasn't happy with his progress relative to other high draft picks, but he's definitely starting to turn the corner.
I would love for him to develop into a Ryan Kesler type... let's hope that he continues to play at this level throughout the year and into the playoffs.
Do you think its timing or that he's just been in a more offensive situation? He seems to thrive offensively when he knows that he's needed in that role. Sure he hasn't been there at times when he's yo-yoed into that role but I think he's always done well in a top 6 or clutch role.
You can almost see the difference in him now. He hoilds on to the puck to make plays, gets in good scoring positions and puts shots on net instead of just making the role players safe play. IMO thats always been there and we saw that during his rookie year while he would get pucks and drive to the net.
I'm hoping the Pens talk to him about his role on the team, maybe they have already. If they go back to playing the 3 headed monster, Staal can't think like a typical third line center. He's still getting about :20 mins a night, is part of The Core and is seen as a star on this team and in the league. It sounds so simple but some players need to hear that over and over.
I love, and I mean love, the way he creeps into the high slot on the PP. Not only can he get a good angle on a goalie for a shot but it just opens up so many lanes for other players.
That's really all I want to see if Staal isn't playing in the top 6. Keep Cooke-Staal-Kennedy together.
Kunitz-Sid-Duper
Sully-Geno-Neal
Cooke-Staal-Tk
It's just I see Neal playing with Sid when he returns. If that happens, I see Sully/TK not being enough for Geno to be in dominant mode and Staal eventually moving up.
Do you think its timing or that he's just been in a more offensive situation? He seems to thrive offensively when he knows that he's needed in that role. Sure he hasn't been there at times when he's yo-yoed into that role but I think he's always done well in a top 6 or clutch role.
You can almost see the difference in him now. He hoilds on to the puck to make plays, gets in good scoring positions and puts shots on net instead of just making the role players safe play. IMO thats always been there and we saw that during his rookie year while he would get pucks and drive to the net.
I'm hoping the Pens talk to him about his role on the team, maybe they have already. If they go back to playing the 3 headed monster, Staal can't think like a typical third line center. He's still getting about :20 mins a night, is part of The Core and is seen as a star on this team and in the league. It sounds so simple but some players need to hear that over and over.
I love, and I mean love, the way he creeps into the high slot on the PP. Not only can he get a good angle on a goalie for a shot but it just opens up so many lanes for other players.
I agree. His role as a defensive minded center has to go out the window. There's no reason he can't keep doing what he's doing now especially if CSK is reunited.
Jordan Staal, at the ripe old age of 23, is a 5+ year NHL veteran. This kid is nowhere NEAR his prime - that won't happen for another 5 years. If he keeps progressing, he's gonna be one hell of a hockey player by the time he's in his late 20's.
I really want Staal locked up longterm. He's only going to get better and if we can get him for Patrice Bergeron money until he's 30, this team could damn well be a dynasty.
Do you think its timing or that he's just been in a more offensive situation? He seems to thrive offensively when he knows that he's needed in that role. Sure he hasn't been there at times when he's yo-yoed into that role but I think he's always done well in a top 6 or clutch role.
You can almost see the difference in him now. He hoilds on to the puck to make plays, gets in good scoring positions and puts shots on net instead of just making the role players safe play. IMO thats always been there and we saw that during his rookie year while he would get pucks and drive to the net.
I'm hoping the Pens talk to him about his role on the team, maybe they have already. If they go back to playing the 3 headed monster, Staal can't think like a typical third line center. He's still getting about :20 mins a night, is part of The Core and is seen as a star on this team and in the league. It sounds so simple but some players need to hear that over and over.
I love, and I mean love, the way he creeps into the high slot on the PP. Not only can he get a good angle on a goalie for a shot but it just opens up so many lanes for other players.
I really want Staal locked up longterm. He's only going to get better and if we can get him for Patrice Bergeron money until he's 30, this team could damn well be a dynasty.
Agreed, we NEED Staal locked up long term. Staal is the type of player you win championships with.
On paper, perhaps. But anyone who actually WATCHED the games...knows different.
In my eyes it was really the Jersey game where he started his terror. Before than, average, before than poor. Maybe not so much poor but...underwhelming. Flashes of brilliance followed by a whole lot of nothing. I do give credit where credit is due and right now Staal's killin it!
I expect his to reach Crosby status by March...if he keeps pace.
I would disagree, as I've "actually WATCHED the games" and Staal has been playing really well all season. He has been on another level since the Jersey game, but i wouldn't describe his play prior to that as poor or say that he looked lost.
It's just I see Neal playing with Sid when he returns. If that happens, I see Sully/TK not being enough for Geno to be in dominant mode and Staal eventually moving up.
In the (likely) instance that Sully is out of the lineup I think this would work well:
Well to me he is simply becoming the player i always thought hed be. I think he was a guy who maybe had trouble walking and chewing gum at the same time - if you dont mind an analogy - and now that he figured out the proper rhythm its making both his walking and his gum chewing look better than they did before.
The thing that i keep seeing is that he finally knows where to go next. I can remember him standing painfully still with a defenseman right next to him in the high slot. Now hes doing the same thing but with nuance. He moves into the shallow slot first and then uses the space he created to change direction and instead drift into the high slot. it makes the defensemans job a lot tougher. Then staal either gets space for his own shot or he creates a lane when the defenseman follows him out. It sounds simple but compared to the way he used to go straight to his spot and just stand there with his stick raised? Night and day.
It might have taken 400+ games at the NHL level, but Staal is definitely starting to show major signs of improvement in both the consistency and offensive departments.
I've been harsh on him over the past several years because I wasn't happy with his progress relative to other high draft picks, but he's definitely starting to turn the corner.
I would love for him to develop into a Ryan Kesler type... let's hope that he continues to play at this level throughout the year and into the playoffs.
I... I don't understand. You're saying that positive about Staal?
Do you think its timing or that he's just been in a more offensive situation? He seems to thrive offensively when he knows that he's needed in that role. Sure he hasn't been there at times when he's yo-yoed into that role but I think he's always done well in a top 6 or clutch role.
You can almost see the difference in him now. He hoilds on to the puck to make plays, gets in good scoring positions and puts shots on net instead of just making the role players safe play. IMO thats always been there and we saw that during his rookie year while he would get pucks and drive to the net.
I'm hoping the Pens talk to him about his role on the team, maybe they have already. If they go back to playing the 3 headed monster, Staal can't think like a typical third line center. He's still getting about :20 mins a night, is part of The Core and is seen as a star on this team and in the league. It sounds so simple but some players need to hear that over and over.
I love, and I mean love, the way he creeps into the high slot on the PP. Not only can he get a good angle on a goalie for a shot but it just opens up so many lanes for other players.
Honestly, I think Staal needed a full off-season and training camp to strengthen his game and work on his problem areas.
He has a lot of opportunities in the offensive zone last season, both in the regular season and the playoffs, but he just wasn't able to convert on a lot of chances. I'm seeing a lot more confidence in Staal's game right now - especially in the offensive zone. I think that extra work and preparation in the offseason really benefited his game in a big way.
Sometimes you gotta be thrown into the fire and I think last year was that turning point for Staal. He was used to playing behind Sid/Malkin and then all of a sudden it was his team. It makes you grow up in a hurry.
He's had a few quiet games during this season but that's to be expected, guys in the 70 point tier still have quiet games.
He's neck and neck with Toews in all major statistical categories playing two less games. He's 14th among all centers in plus/minus, 13th in points and tied for 3rd in goals.
I... I don't understand. You're saying that positive about Staal?
Haha.. man - folks can make their own value judgements about me and they're certainly entitled to those opinions, but I just call it like I see it.
I'm never going to be the type that is unyielding to a certain belief because that is just silly. Actually, I'm quite happy that Staal has picked up his game because there was never a question that the potential was certainly there.
Honestly, I think Staal needed a full off-season and training camp to strengthen his game and work on his problem areas.
He has a lot of opportunities in the offensive zone last season, both in the regular season and the playoffs, but he just wasn't able to convert on a lot of chances. I'm seeing a lot more confidence in Staal's game right now - especially in the offensive zone. I think that extra work and preparation in the offseason really benefited his game in a big way.
Sometimes you gotta be thrown into the fire and I think last year was that turning point for Staal. He was used to playing behind Sid/Malkin and then all of a sudden it was his team. It makes you grow up in a hurry.
Which is what many on here were pointing out to you last year. But instead you kept pointing out TOI and his measly 60 pt pace.
Try and remember that when you jump on Martin who's having a rough stretch admittedly. He's too good not to turn it around.
Honestly, I think Staal needed a full off-season and training camp to strengthen his game and work on his problem areas.
He has a lot of opportunities in the offensive zone last season, both in the regular season and the playoffs, but he just wasn't able to convert on a lot of chances. I'm seeing a lot more confidence in Staal's game right now - especially in the offensive zone. I think that extra work and preparation in the offseason really benefited his game in a big way.
Sometimes you gotta be thrown into the fire and I think last year was that turning point for Staal. He was used to playing behind Sid/Malkin and then all of a sudden it was his team. It makes you grow up in a hurry.
You have a lot of nerve saying this after people tried time and time again to tell you this last season and you repeatedly kept babbling on with your proven wrong criticisms.
Now you want to make it sound like you came up with some great revelation, like you knew this all along. Give me a break.
Didn't mean to post. So uh.. gotta edit this into something on-topic.
Staal is... good. But seriously, one of the main things is he's oozing with confidence right now. He's gotta keep that up even if he runs into a dry spell later in the year scoring-wise.
Last edited by Tasty Biscuits: 11-16-2011 at 04:43 PM.
Reason: Misread a previous post.
You have a lot of nerve saying this after people tried time and time again to tell you this last season and you repeatedly kept babbling on with your proven wrong criticisms.
Now you want to make it sound like you came up with some great revelation, like you knew this all along. Give me a break.
I honestly just had my jaw drop. I can't read Cassius' posts. He blocked me after both Neal and Staal started doing well. Weird.
He's neck and neck with Toews in all major statistical categories playing two less games. He's 14th among all centers in plus/minus, 13th in points and tied for 3rd in goals.
I'm curious where Staal will end up once all the forwards are healthy (blasphemy, I know).The team would be better off with him at 3c, but if this newly found offensive game isn't a fluke maybe he can do some damage with Geno or Sid.
Above all else, I'm afraid Dupuis is gonna go back playing with Sid haha
