With anticipation, Canes fans are waiting for the return of Jordan Staal who has been out since early December (he did return on December 20 and 22 before shutting it down again). He practiced in a regular contact jersey on Monday which suggested he was close to return and might even play in Tuesday’s game against the Rangers. But another game has passed, and we are still waiting.
When Staal returns, he will have missed more than 30 games, and the team will have played its best hockey without him. For some, that might suggest that he is expendable or not needed. No doubt, the team’s extended winning run without him suggests it can survive without him in the lineup. But that is not the same as saying that the team is better off without him. I actually think the exact opposite is true. Despite continuing to find a way to win, the team is fighting it a bit right now and especially in games like Thursday could use Staal’s presence to calm things down for his shift and often the one that follows too.
When Staal does return, I will be watching him closely. I think timing could not be more perfect for him to make a huge play as a leader of the team. The team is still winning, but entering the final quarter of the season could use a jolt right about now to find a higher gear and keep pushing upward.
On the one hand, the team’s success affords Staal the chance to quietly slide back into the lineup, take a slightly lesser role and minutes initially and gradually play his way up from there. That seems to be an okay path, but I much more so want to see Staal make a statement of the kind that provides the next burst of energy for this team. Within the first couple games, I would like to see Staal make a statement that immediately embraces the urgency of the current situation and rises to a high level to meet it.
Jordan Staal has been a leader on the team for some time now, but right now is the time for him to finally lead this team to success. Because the team does not desperately need it right now, I actually think if Staal rises up like I hope that it will have a profound impact on the team.
What say you Canes fans?
1) Am I asking too much from Jordan Staal out of the gate given his extended layoff? Or am I right that the ball is on the tee for Staal to inspire his team?
2) What do you consider reasonable expectations for Staal initially when he returns?
3) Where would you slot Jordan Staal into the lineup and who comes out of the lineup?
Go Canes!
My only concern with Staal is that he’s been out the entire run this team has made. Is that coincidence? Or is that irrelevant? We will know soon.
All 4 lines since his absence have a speed, tenacity and are clicking, so will be interesting to see where he slots.
Wallmark lost the last two face-offs last night where gaining possession would have iced the game for the Canes earlier. This is where I was hoping we had Staal. Ironically, that’s the only time I missed not having Staal. I feel as though he and Wallmark are interchangeable offensively and defensively, only with face-offs in Staal’s favor.
live_free captures my thoughts well.
One more thing: we lead the NHL in scoring since Jan-1 and have scored 3+ goals in 17 of 23, all without Staal. We sure could have used him during crunch time last night against FLA, especially taking draws, but I’m concerned about slowing down an offense that is clearly clicking and that wasn’t clicking at all with him in the lineup. The game looked noticeably slower when his line was on the ice; I hope RBA’s pairings can solve that problem (or perception, if I’m off-base). Slotting is going to be key.
We’ve been close to the cut-line in years-past when leadership had a chance to make a statement – that even includes last year – but this year feels different. I’m excited for Staal to come back; he’s re-joining a different team moving in the right direction and he’s not going to have the pressure or burden of being the difference-maker he’s carried in the past.
If last night’s game in any indication of what the next 6 weeks are going to be like, there are many nerve-racking nights in our future.
Definitely a dilemma. Staal is a very good defensive center who excels at winning face-offs. He can be valuable if used for those purposes. Staal is also, as livefree and dmiller argue, more suited to a medium paced game. I think a McGinn/Staal/Martinook line would be ideal. Their main responsibility would be tough d-zone matchups. But both the wingers can create offense through aggressive forechecking, so precision fast transitions and precision passing wouldn’t be needed. This would push Svechnikov up to the second scoring line. Which could move TT to center: Ferland/Teravainen/Svechnikov or allow Ferland to be traded.
The article and comments capture my thoughts well.
The two things to add:
1) after 30 games out, a conditioning stint to CLT is a very good idea. Even if just for a game or two.
2) CT’s third line looks right. The key is wether to keep Martinook at center or not, which means either McKegg or a winger get displaced. At this point in the season though having an extra forward wouldn’t hurt, and displacement can be situational.
Who goes down (or is the healthy extra?) Easy decision. McKegg – He is up right now as an emergency loan. We have room on the roster to keep him up if the team wanted to.
Reasonable expectations for Staal’s return… I think he will be solid. He has consistently been one of the best players on this team. He is a horse and can drive the play and dominate possession. There is no way this team is better without him in the lineup.
You have to love the Svetch, Marty, Brock line. They are just a blast to watch.. so I think that stays together. So its either he takes Wally’s place with TT and Ferls and Wally drops with Saku and Foe Daddy. Or you drop Staal in that spot and leave Wally where he is.
But that said.. there could be a bunch of different line combos and I have no clue LOL
One correction – McKegg is no longer on an emergency call-up. The “emergency” ended when Ferland came back. McKegg would have to pass through waivers.
Matt, in project a bright and shining moment for JStaal, Matt, I think you are setting him for failure on that metric, although it would be nice to see I agree.
Staal has been centering Ferland and Turbo in practice and I think that is where he stays. Martinook is out of position at center so I think Wallmark slides there and Martinook goes back to wing. I think Saku or Foegele are the wingers most likely to see the press box or the road to CLT.
In no way do I think the team is better off without Staal. He is an ELITE defensive center and that is incredibly valuable in playoff type hockey. In fact, it can be the difference between winning and losing. He drives possession and is an unstoppable force when bringing the puck up the ice. He may have looked slow earlier, but from reporting that has been done on his situation, he may have been dealing with concussion symptoms for a good while before he took himself out of the San Jose game. While I like what Wallmark has brought this year, he and Staal are in no way interchangeable.
Like most players coming back from concussion, his timing and decision making with be off. It takes awhile to get that back. But imo, we will not make the playoffs without him in the lineup. We have had a fair amount of puck luck and goalies standing on their heads to pull out victories lately. That will not last.
This is going to sound like Staal bashing… and that is certainly not my intent… and boy I hope I am very very wrong! However, When has Staal provided a “Jolt”? Really, please remind me. I keep seeing where he drives possession, but you can’t deny the scoring surge after he was gone. Martinook is having a career year… is part of that because he is at center, and has fast line mates? They say Jordon is practicing on the 2nd line…. that also means he will be on the first powerplay….
I just don’t know….. really!
Prior to the scoring surge in the New Year was the wheels coming off the team in December coincident with Staal’s injury. People forget how bad we were in December! 😀
Jordan Staal would be a fantastic third line/defensive center, calming influence, face off jedi, neutralizing the opponents’ best.
Unfortunately it looks like he will be reslotted on the second line on his return, and thus put in a situation where he has not managed to be successful so far this season due to his lack of speed and limited scoring ability.
I’m still hoping the Canes will find a second line center, even as a rental (Kevin Hayes, Toffoli, someone like that) and allow Staal to slip down to a third line center with Walmark on the 4th.
That’s how I could see the Canes step it up and contend for the playoffs. CBJ is going all in now that they’ve acquired Duchene, this is going to be an absolute dog fight for the next 6 ish weeks.
This roster might sneak in, they got the attitude, they find ways to win, but I still feel they are a quality forward short, more specifically they need a second line center with some scoring.
I’ve been quiet for a while, reading this site with great interest but unsure about where the Canes are going. I’m delighted they haven’t sacrificed anything about next year to improve slim chances this year. I’ve enjoyed the intriguing discussions of trading for Nugent-Hopkins or another center but been concerned about whether he is worth a king’s ransom.
Now I’m interested to hear what everybody thinks the Canes’ trade possibilities are now that they played surprisingly well without Jordan Staal. I think Staal will continue to be a big asset if he stays. It’s just that now the Canes may have the option to use that asset in trade.
I’m thinking about Staal’s possible role in a blockbuster trade with Edmonton, which has to shake up its roster. Staal will be getting $6 M a year through 22-23. That seemed to make him untradeable since he’s not a big point producer. But the term and salary the Canes pay for Staal exactly match what the Oilers are paying Milan Lucic. Obviously, nobody wants Lucic at that price. On the other hand, as part of a trade that gets the Oilers out of salary cap hell, the match in term and salary might matter. The Oilers need a defensive center like Staal. And with McDavid, Nugent-Hopkins and Staal at center, the Oilers might be willing to part with Draisaitl. Lucic could be the bodyguard for the Canes’ young forwards that he was signed to be for McDavid.
Think Staal, Justin Faulk and a forward prospect or draft pick for Draisaitl and Lucic. The Canes could offer Saarela or Kuokkanen or even one of them plus a draft pick. I think the Canes should offer a lot to get Draisaitl and that the Oilers will listen to an offer that makes it possible to move Lucic and put a more balanced roster around McDavid. The Oilers have to make a big move. They can’t stand pat.
Separately, I think the Canes should try to swap Gauthier for Puljujarvi on the theory that the latter might flourish as a Cane with the three other Finns on the roster. Gauthier and Pulju have fared about the same in the AHL. They are the same size, both right shots and both 1st round picks. Pulju was drafted higher. If the Oilers won’t do the trade straight-up, Gauthier plus the second rounder from Buffalo might do the trick.
Are these thoughts crazy?
Do you see Draisaitl as a center? Lucic is no for me, he has really played badly – not even a 4th liner. But I think the big move will be around the draft.
I’m hopeful Jordan will play at a 50+ pt rate. He has had success with wingers like TT and Aho before. That at least would rebuild his value.
Making the playoffs is important so I would like to see a move for more scoring. Keep Ferland, trade for someone like Hoffman.
Gauthier seems to be progressing at the AHL, power forwards often take longer to develop.
Having long been a Lucic fan and wanting his kind of “truculence” on the Canes for most of the Ron Francis era I understand the why of getting him in trade. However, one must look at Lucic’s contract to understand the albatross that comes with him. He will be 31 with 4 years term remaining at an AAV of $6mm with a NMC. His actually salary is less, varying each year, 60% of which is signing bonuses. He would be both hard to trade and difficult to buy out. Five years ago Lucic would have been a fit here. However, that ship has sailed. Ferland is Lucic from 5 years ago. Lucic is why giving Ferland the term he wants “risky”. I’d rather see Ferland stay until he is 31 than watch Lucic turn 35 in red and white. For me, the poison pill attached to Lucic makes this part of your plan “crazy”.
Puljujarvi is on IR right now, making any trade that helps the team in the playoff run unlikely. He is clearly a player, (both big and fast), who needs a change of scenery, with an unmeet upside that is tempting. I’d love to see him in Charlotte for the rest of the season under Velucci’s care. Imagine he and Aho reunited on a line in September. Likely one issue with his being traded is that Edmonton would have to “save face” with whatever deal was put together. The deal would likely need to appear at least on paper to favor the Oilers. Using one of the better prospects in Charlotte with assets from the Skinner deal might do that. Personally I love this part of your plan and find it “brilliant”.
Thanks for the follow-up. I was unclear about the timing of the trades. I wasn’t thinking either could happen by Monday. For this year, I’m content to see what happens with Staal and Ferland helping in the Canes’ playoff run.
For the long term, do you think I’m wrong in believing the Canes should go all-out to get a big offensive force like Draisaitl? I think getting Draisaitl would justify taking on the albatross of the Lucic contract, even if Lucic only plays against Tom Wilson and is a healthy extra for years. Am I overvaluing Draisaitl? Am I wrong to think the Canes would have to overpay for the Oilers to consider trading Draisaitl?
Getting a big offensive force, like a Draisatl, is always a good idea. But I suggest you watch a few more Edmonton games to see the impact Lucic currently has on those games. He is not at all what he was in Boston. He is slow, can’t stay up with the pace of the game there. He is not the same physical presence anymore either. If you want his former truculence, spend the money on Ferland for 4 years, not on a player planned to be a healthy extra. More importantly, Edmonton is not giving up Draisatl just to dump Lucic. There are better ways for them to do that anyway.
It is a time when speculation is crazy. I watched the Checkers game last night and noticed neither Necas nor Saarela was in the lineup. Most likely both are banged up or ill, but it did have me wondering. Necas is a valuable trade chip. If TD and Waddell are focused on immediate success, then it is possible they would trade their best forward prospect. Or management could be thinking like me that adding Niederreiter, getting Staal back in the lineup, and keeping Ferland as a self-rental is actually a lot of upgrading.
Just because I am thinking about it too much, I am glad things will be settled by Monday.
Saarela is injured and wasn’t slated to play.
Necas was out with an illness.
And, indeed, getting Staal now is like having traded for a rental.