I don't have a memory that's capable of recalling all of Staal's hot stretches offensively, but i think it's safe to say, he's never looked this dangerous for this long.
Other than the giveaway against Tampa, I have liked A LOT of what I've seen from Staal over the past 10 games especially. More dynamic and enters the offensive zone with much more purpose and confidence in his passing. Not a wizard on the puck and never will be, but a factor out there offensively just the same.
You found the word I was looking for.
Confidence.
Seriously though, the biggest difference I've seen in Jordan's game is that he is absolutely oozing confidence throughout this recent stretch (since his two goal game on 10/22/11). I believe that game was a turning point, an acceleration point, in his career in regards to his offensive progression.
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
With the unusually high amount of floating Malkin has exhibited so far this season, I suspect he's still apprehensive with regards to his knee injury. Until Geno is in truly comfortable with that situation, and with Staal's new-found offensive awareness, selfishly I would love Evgeni to play full time on Crosby's wing for an extended time.
The fore-check Neal and Crosby bring to that line would free up Malkin to find the soft spots in the defense. The Penguins have been winning with Jordan Staal as the 2nd line center, so now would be a great time to allow Jordan the opportunity to advance his offensive game.
If the loaded top line does not work out, with the makeup of this year's team, a healthy Penguins squad has many more options compared to recent years. Malkin can be moved to Staal's wing, or we can go back to the 3 center model.
Anyone wanna take bets he outproduces Kesler this year?
J Staal has been underrated for years. Kesler, on the other hand, has had too many injuries/operations over the years to be as good as he was in the past.
Sadly, J Staal NEVER gets mentioned for inclusion on Canada's Olympic team in 2014.
J Staal has been underrated for years. Kesler, on the other hand, has had too many injuries/operations over the years to be as good as he was in the past.
Sadly, J Staal NEVER gets mentioned for inclusion on Canada's Olympic team in 2014.
With the unusually high amount of floating Malkin has exhibited so far this season, I suspect he's still apprehensive with regards to his knee injury. Until Geno is in truly comfortable with that situation, and with Staal's new-found offensive awareness, selfishly I would love Evgeni to play full time on Crosby's wing for an extended time.
The fore-check Neal and Crosby bring to that line would free up Malkin to find the soft spots in the defense. The Penguins have been winning with Jordan Staal as the 2nd line center, so now would be a great time to allow Jordan the opportunity to advance his offensive game.
If the loaded top line does not work out, with the makeup of this year's team, a healthy Penguins squad has many more options compared to recent years. Malkin can be moved to Staal's wing, or we can go back to the 3 center model.
That's top line is just not fair. 2 minutes for too much awesome imo. However, I doubt HCDB would want to put his eggs in one basket with that much regularity. Rolling 3 scoring lines is probably the better option.
That's top line is just not fair. 2 minutes for too much awesome imo. However, I doubt HCDB would want to put his eggs in one basket with that much regularity. Rolling 3 scoring lines is probably the better option.
Malkin never looks better or more focused than when he's with Crosby at even strength. Granted the Pens wouldn't and shouldn't permanantly attach him on 1st line wing, but it's a perfectly good strategy when the team needs a kick (shift after a PK when you could catch 3rd pairing D out there for the other team) or if the Pens need a goal late in a period or game.
J Staal has been underrated for years. Kesler, on the other hand, has had too many injuries/operations over the years to be as good as he was in the past.
Sadly, J Staal NEVER gets mentioned for inclusion on Canada's Olympic team in 2014.
He will probably get consideration if he can keep this level of play up.
I mean, wasn't he being talked about as a 4th line center on this last squad?
I still think the 3C model makes us the most well balanced team in the league. Now with Staal's emergence, I think its even more of a reason to go with it.
Sully - Malkin - Neal make things happen time they are on the ice. Any line with Crosby is gonna make things happen. Thats 2 scoring lines. Why not add a 3rd with Staal, Cooke, and TK? Thats three lines other teams have to deal with. Too much to handle in the long run.
If DB wants to run Crosby Malkin or Staal - Malkin or...oddly Crosby - Staal, then I think its a one shift - energy line thing. The 3C over a course of the game will make us better off than the Croskin, Staalkin, etc.
Looking at it, when Crosby comes back...does anyone else think this is about the best team we've had since the lockout? 08 was darn good but...I just see these guys being slightly better. Once healthy...I see our defense being just as good, if not better than 09. This excites me.
As an aside, I am shocked that Cherry has not gushed all over the air about Staal yet this year. Should be coming soon. He always had a soft spot for the big Canadian farm boy icon that he made Staal to be, if Staal does have a true break out year, Cherry will be insufferable about him I would think.
As an aside, I am shocked that Cherry has not gushed all over the air about Staal yet this year. Should be coming soon. He always had a soft spot for the big Canadian farm boy icon that he made Staal to be, if Staal does have a true break out year, Cherry will be insufferable about him I would think.
Last edited by Ugene Malkin: 11-20-2011 at 07:41 AM.
Don't laugh... it would make perfect sense as far as the instantaneous improvement in puck handling. Even to start the year Staal was still fumbling pucks in traffic and doing the things we're used to him doing because he had such a hard time maneuvering his Gronk self and his blueliner's twig through the gaps. Now it's like he's a different person. Usually those kinds of changes don't happen that rapidly. They happen over a season or two where slowly but surely a guy gets a little better at one particular skill until he's consistently good at it.
However if you introduce a completely new variable to the equation (like a stick that's even 1-1.5" shorter) it can make a huge difference in a player's confidence. It can feel like the shackles are off. Might hurt his ability to make poke checks in some situations but I'd say the trade-off is worth it if that's what he did.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Funk311
Top 5 post of the year
Hey I've been saying that for weeks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jules Winnfield
Jordan Staal's emergence is credited to
Does he also handle concussion rehabs?
Quote:
Originally Posted by mpp9
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.
The more his stock rises this year, you can start adding by the million to his next cap hit. If he really accelerates and doesn't look back, I don't see how -barring a major cap increase- Shero can re-sign all of Sid, Geno and Staal to long term deals in the next year or two. Staal is a $4M hit right now. If he bags 70pts this year and starts on the same pace next year... you can pencil him in for something close to $7M. While great for the team it's a pickle for Shero assuming all three guys are healthy and producing well. As much as we'd all love to believe Sid and Geno will continue taking $8.7M a year, they're both going to be closer to $10M hit, easy.
The league is cracking down on BS cap circumvention contracts like Kovalev and Shero isn't going to sign anyone for 10 years or something like that IMO. It's not the way he operates / not a part of the team's acquisition philosophy where you take the core guys and you stick to the 5-6 year level to keep guys from getting lazy, from hamstringing the team from making trades, etc.
Yeah, those long term deals can come back and bite you in the ass. Look at Ovechkin. Sure he might and likely will find his game again. But do not tell me that the Capitals are not worried right now. Someday the Flyers will not find some idiot GM to take their long term signings off their hands when they become worthless. Lots of other cautionary tales like that.
I think we've definitely seen about as much bad come from those contracts as good.
Athletes need something to shoot for. If you make their career...there's no incentive there. Very few, IMO, have the kind of drive to be the best regardless of their contract status. Sid is undoubtedly one of them. I wouldn't give an uber-term deal to any other guy on this roster. 5-7 years for the core is more than enough, IMO.
Don't laugh... it would make perfect sense as far as the instantaneous improvement in puck handling. Even to start the year Staal was still fumbling pucks in traffic and doing the things we're used to him doing because he had such a hard time maneuvering his Gronk self and his blueliner's twig through the gaps. Now it's like he's a different person. Usually those kinds of changes don't happen that rapidly. They happen over a season or two where slowly but surely a guy gets a little better at one particular skill until he's consistently good at it.
However if you introduce a completely new variable to the equation (like a stick that's even 1-1.5" shorter) it can make a huge difference in a player's confidence. It can feel like the shackles are off. Might hurt his ability to make poke checks in some situations but I'd say the trade-off is worth it if that's what he did.
I'm not laughing, I totally believe that's the case.
He has lost both of his talking points. One was Staal, the other was Neal.
It's odd that he's been very quiet since Staal and Neal have been playing better and better. You'd think that a guy who so desperately clung to his beliefs and who was so vocal about them would want to be a part of a Staal thread, right?
The more his stock rises this year, you can start adding by the million to his next cap hit. If he really accelerates and doesn't look back, I don't see how -barring a major cap increase- Shero can re-sign all of Sid, Geno and Staal to long term deals in the next year or two. Staal is a $4M hit right now. If he bags 70pts this year and starts on the same pace next year... you can pencil him in for something close to $7M. While great for the team it's a pickle for Shero assuming all three guys are healthy and producing well. As much as we'd all love to believe Sid and Geno will continue taking $8.7M a year, they're both going to be closer to $10M hit, easy.
The league is cracking down on BS cap circumvention contracts like Kovalev and Shero isn't going to sign anyone for 10 years or something like that IMO. It's not the way he operates / not a part of the team's acquisition philosophy where you take the core guys and you stick to the 5-6 year level to keep guys from getting lazy, from hamstringing the team from making trades, etc.
Will be interesting to see what transpires.
Staal could get a serious contract if he puts up back to back 70 pt seasons. But I doubt he's leaving a cup contender when we could pay him around 5.5 which is right around where his peers would be (Bergeron, Kesler, Ribeiro, Plekanec, M. Richards).
As long as Sid/Geno stay around the same, it'll trickle down to the rest of our core. Staal at 5.5 and Letang at 6 would be doable imo.
