Pensburgh Wrapup: Jordan Staal
by FrankD on Jun 25, 2010 6:00 AM EDT
Email
Print
Rabindranath Tagore
Month-by-month Pensburgh grades:
October: C+
November: B
December: B+
January: B+
February: A-
March: B+
Playoffs: B
Contract Status: Signed through 2012-13 with a cap hit of $4 mill. Becomes a UFA in 2013.
Interesting Stat: During the 2009-10 season, Jordan set a new career high in assists with 28 and tied his previous career high in points with 49.
The Good: Jordan Staal did everything that was expected of him this past season, and then some. I really think that, for the first time since his rookie campaign, his shot had a bit more confidence behind it. Mind you, this praise is coming from someone who bashed the hell out of him last season for shooting 90 miles wide or over the net. That was directed more towards Kris Letang this season.
But I digress. If ever there was a season where Jordan Staal showed his true value, this was it. On the PK, on the second PP unit or even working it on the third line with Cooke and/or Kennedy and/or Dupuis (injuries pending), it was comforting to see him on the ice. That much is evident in Staal's +/-; which to the surprise of no one was a Penguins-best +19.
The Bad: I know I played this card with Sidney Crosby, but I genuinely can't think of anything that would be on the bad side for Staal in 2009-10. Bad might be the wrong word in this situation, so let's say "improvement." One of the areas you always want to see your PK center work on is faceoffs. Since the league started moving opening PP faceoffs into the opposing team's offensive zone, the two-way center with skill in the circle is becoming a necessary commodity. So let's say faceoffs for the sake of criticism, even though he was 20th overall in the league with a face-off win percentage of 48.3 percent.
Final Verdict: It was a confidence year for Jordan Staal. Not that he'd necessarily need one coming off a season where he and his teammates won the Stanley Cup, but this was more of a personal thing. Confidence, in the sense that he grew as a player. If we're comparing to his 2009 run then he's definitely on the up and up. Like many of the Pensburgh wrapups centered on guys returning next season, the following season is the best way to really make a final decision on how a guy played. I'm no soothsayer, but I can confidently say that 2010 is going to be a big year for Staal.
Question and Discussion: We already know how efficient Jordan Staal can be on the PK. But how comfortable would you be if Bylsma perhaps worked him into the top PP unit a bit more? Maybe even a line promotion of sorts is in the works as well. Discuss.
41 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I’m just glad he’s on my team. Put him wherever, the kid’s a total beast. Can’t wait to see what’s up for next year now that he’s got a full summer to work out and get even bigger and stronger.
Not to mention recover. I’m sure that foot surgery and whatnot was more serious than he made it out to be. A little down time to recover and come back stronger next season will do him much good.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
Totally agree with Max Powers
.
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jun 25, 2010 8:17 AM EDT reply actions 5 recs
Nice Photos
Again, PAYD, what a wonderful array of photos you have! These are fantastic!
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 25, 2010 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions
Nice Photos
Again, PAYD, what a wonderful array of photos you have! These are fantastic!
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 25, 2010 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions
Jordo
What can you say about the big lug? He does everything asked of him: clamps down on defense, chips in an occasional big goal, great teammate, plays hurt, earns every penny, has a phenomenal attitude, and is overall good guy. The Pens are blessed, not only with such great talent but also great people and Jordo is right up there with the best of them. He is a superstar in the making. Watch out league.
Let's not forget his incredible return just days after foot surgery
I am very out of touch, since I get 95% of my news from Robin Quivers and Steve Langford, so this might be something that everyone else already knows, but apparently Staal had a second surgery on his foot earlier this month..
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jun 25, 2010 8:44 AM EDT reply actions
I didn’t know it until the award show lead up.
Good that he got it out of the way early and will be all healed up and ready to go for the start of next season.
by Hooks Orpik on Jun 25, 2010 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Ah, so there would have been a good reason to not fast forward through most of the awards show.
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jun 25, 2010 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions
Mr Staal
I cannot think of one bad thing to say about Jordan Staal.
What is not to like? He shows up for each and every game, never any excuses. Never complains never whines. Shows leadership. And he is so big and tall!!! that’s an added bonus.
I would like to see him added to the PP, most definately. I also believes he belongs on our second line, or deserves to be. He has so much uncorked potential that it is scary. I don’t think he even realizes what he is yet, what he can be. When he does, watch out.
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 25, 2010 10:10 AM EDT reply actions
Nice write up! Great player. Any team would love to have him. I would like to maybe see him become that big guy in front of the net
Same here. I guess maybe that’s also an area of improvement worth considering. He’s huge. And while he may not possess that same level of grit/fight that guys like Ryan Malone had when they were in Pitt, getting him in front of the next to screen the goalie or deflect a few shots could really do wonders.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
I’m not Frank, but in the case of Gonchar, for example, if we traded him then the receiving team would have the right to negotiate a deal with him prior to July 1, thus we would be “trading his rights”.
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jun 25, 2010 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
^ Yup, what PensAreYourDaddy said. Basically if a team knows they are going to cut ties with a guy and want to try and salvage something out of the deal, they can trade the rights to a team that wants to have prime negotiating options before the player tests the free market. The Pens did this with Ryan Malone when he signed with Tampa. They knew it wasn’t going to work out, so they salvaged (I think) two draft picks for him. Something like a fifth and seventh rounders. In other words, something is better than nothing.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
Gotta give it up for Jordan. Another very hard worker who has shown his worth. He impressed me very much durng the playoffs with this foot injury and how he came back so quickly even though you know it had to hurt like heck. He is what you call a true warrior. So glad he is on our team. Also I am thoroughly enjoying the pictures PAYD.
Ahem
I want him to be the PK
I want him to play 60 minutes too.
I’d argue that he’s our second most important player… and first is Crosby/Malkin… as is third, but first is the hotter player. And, I cant see Geno going on the PK.
Jordan is my player dammit. I want him to play topline defence minutes. He cant go topline winger, PP, PK, and 3rd line center. PK and 3rd line center, then PP if he has minutes left.
Once he works in some more consistent stick handling, he’s going to be an unstoppable force going toward the net.
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
staal is an absolute beast, and he continues to improve his game. i’d love to see him kicking butt on the third line again this year, but if they need him to move to a different line, i definitely think he could do it. he didn’t win the selke this year, but if he keeps things up, he’ll definitely be a winner in the future
Question
So … what are the month-by-month grades based on? If there’s nothing particularly bad to say about him, then why was his highest grade an A-, and that only once?
(And also: J-Staal is great and lets nevereverever trade him for J-Spezza.)
Go, Shero, Go!!! And also Brian Burke.
Grades are based on a complex algorithm
Any questions?
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jun 25, 2010 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Mr. Hooks dished out grades month by month. He’d be able to answer that more accurately.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
hahaha, i laughed. =]
i like the pens, sidney crosby, jordan staal, and typing in capital letters.
by katielynn906 on Jun 25, 2010 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Staal's value to this team
is much more than the casual Pens fan may realize. So much so, that, in the next few years, the Pens may end up having to let Malkin go (while keeping Sid and Staal) due to cap issues. While I hope that’s not the case, it can be argued that Staal’s role on this team is not only of utmost importance, but it is also unique.
Overall, it was a great year for Staal. The only thing is I think he could be better offensively, specifically with his shot. Realizing all the things he already does for the Pens (while going up against the top opposition at home) and that he’s not Crosby, I think that may be a little too much to ask.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
Pens May End Up...
I couldn’t agree more. It may come to that, keeping Staal and trading Malkin. No one would like it but there will come a time when we cannot keep all three. The numbers/money won’t work. I think you are right on the money with that statement(no pun intended)…….but I do not want to think about that right now.
Staal, to me, is invaluable to this team, second only to Sid.
Like you stated, he has a “unique” role.
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 25, 2010 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
The numbers/money won’t work.
Well, it could work. I could honestly see Sid signing for something like 10 years for 6 million each year. I wouldn’t blame him for taking more or equal what he’s at now, but he just seems like the kind of guy who realizes what it takes to win a championship and one of those keys is the right players in place. That would all but force Malkin to sign for equal or lesser value, or be traded. Theoretically, the Pens could save 5.4 million a year if the both Sid and Geno signed at that price.
Like you stated, he has a "unique" role.
You could almost replace Sid with Geno (trying not to go there because I don’t think you could truly replace 87 on or off the ice), but Staal is the only guy ,with that particular role, on our depth chart. If Staal’s gone, there’s no way he can be replaced.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
I could honestly see Sid signing for something like 10 years for6 million$6,000,087 each year.
Fixed.
Go, Shero, Go!!! And also Brian Burke.
is much more than the casual Pens fan may realize.
Most fans realize how talented he is, as well as his enormous potential.
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
Well the do now. How many people would say that he was easily our second most important player before his Selke nomination? I think that opened up a lot of people’s eyes.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
excuse me while i raise my hand and jump up and down and mutter “told you so” under my breath.
i like the pens, sidney crosby, jordan staal, and typing in capital letters.
by katielynn906 on Jun 25, 2010 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Smart Fans, I love it!
You guys are dead on, man I would not want to be in Shero’s shoes in a few years when he has the contracts of Crosby, Malkin and Staal to think about in terms of who to keep and what to do. Maybe, by that time, someone will take a “hometown” discount and stay here for a few more years (mainly Geno). But I just don’t see that happening. Already won a Cup, Conn Smythe, Art Ross, can’t do much more other than solidify your family’s future and chase the money. Every guy would do it when it comes to putting food on his GRANDKIDS plate, if he could.
I am tired of reading some threads, on other sites, talking about trading Staal…proposal here, proposal there…NOT going to happen. How many people have played hockey before? Do these “TRADE STAAL” jokers understand how hard it is to find a forward with that much talent, can score, can PK, can be used on the PP, and is the defensive stalwart? That’s hard to find!
It’s not going to be a fun day when these contracts are coming up, but I agree, I think you keep a super-talented gunner/assist guru/superstar/leader (going to be your Captain, #87), and a defensive-minded superstar. Enough said!
by Wags24 on Jun 25, 2010 3:37 PM EDT reply actions
Thanks for the smart fans comment =].
You’re right, you gotta know that Shero has been laying in bed awake thinking “This is offseason is only going to be worse three years from now, when Staal and Sid’s contracts expire and Geno’s expires year after that.”
Maybe, by that time, someone will take a "hometown" discount and stay here for a few more years (mainly Geno). But I just don’t see that happening
Really you couldn’t see that happening? Like I said above:
I could honestly see Sid signing for something like 10 years for 6 million each year. I wouldn’t blame him for taking more or equal what he’s at now, but he just seems like the kind of guy who realizes what it takes to win a championship and one of those keys is the right players in place. That would all but force Malkin to sign for equal or lesser value, or be traded.
I am tired of reading some threads, on other sites, talking about trading Staal
Lol! Me too. However, I think that has been silenced ever since the Selke nomination.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
Discount...
I like the numbers you put up for Sid. I agree…he seems to be the kind of guy who wouldn’t mind it…mainly because he makes so much in endorsements. Shoot, he could play for league minimum and still make more in a year than 90% of the league. From what I understand and hear from others outside of Pittsburgh, keep his dad out of the negotiations and he may take a small discount.
It’s not out of the question that the Pens can sign all three again, especially if Sid was to do this. If he did, I bet we could get them all! Shoot, Geno owns a bar in Russia so you know he’s bringing in extra money. We’ll see, have a bit of time to enjoy this team before all of this because a swift kick in the …. yeah!
by Wags24 on Jun 25, 2010 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Shoot, he could play for league minimum and still make more in a year than 90% of the league.
Well, I don’t know about that. He sure doesn’t make as much as would if he was a basketball or football star, but, especially if he signs that new Reebok deal, he does make a lot.
From what I understand and hear from others outside of Pittsburgh, keep his dad out of the negotiations and he may take a small discount.
Ooh I forgot about his dad. I’m usually not one to judge people I don’t know, but that man has never sat well with me. That actually makes me re-think the whole thing. I really hope his Dad, especially with Sid being 24 to 25 years old when (not if) he re-signs, doesn’t have too much influence in his decision making.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
Sid's Dad
That is one thing I did not know about: his Dad. Can you explain a little?—about the negotations. Was Crosby’s father an issue? I am just curious.
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 25, 2010 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions
i think my feelings on the subject of jordan staal are well known and i’ll refrain from saying more.
i like the pens, sidney crosby, jordan staal, and typing in capital letters.
You have competition here with your feelings for Staal and Sid, my dear.
You can jump up and down, as I did when Staal was nominated for the Selke this season.
We can both jump up and down. But I can’t type if I’m jumping………jumping for joy, too for tonight’s draft…..
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 25, 2010 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on PensBurgh
Related FanShots on PensBurgh
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Tuesday’s Three Stars: 4-spots for Kovalchuk, Spezza; who throws a strawberry on the ice?
- Henrik Lundqvist survives Zdeno Chara shot to back of head for save of year candidate (VIDEO)
- Red Wings set NHL record with 21 straight home wins; Steve Ott: ‘That’s a phenomenal feat’
- Puck Previews: Red Wings go for wins record; Brian Boyle hates Bruins; Ruutu out 3 weeks
- Blindside assault leads to brawl, suspensions in Austrian Hockey League (VIDEO)
Latest stories and headlines from NHL.com
- WHL Roundup: A look at Tuesday's games
- Gallagher has hat trick and SO winner, leads Giants over Americans 5-4
- Thunderbirds end seven-game home losing streak with 4-3 SO win over Rockets
- Nabokov makes 37 saves, Parenteau scores winner as Islanders beat Jets 3-1
- Ellis' third-period goal for Predators sends Blackhawks to 9th straight loss
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
