Jordan Staal may be unhappy in his current role
twitter.com/#!/alanrobinson22/status/19206218...
twitter.comPosted Apr 17, 2012, 4:45 PM UTC
56217
twitter.comI'd take him as our #1, bozak can go to our third like he belongs
21
If the sweep is completed, and his sentiment really is as negative towards his current situation as it seems... you never know.
6
Nah, it doesn't fit into Burke's genius first draft pick plan.
They'll have to sacrifice another season now.
5
Or someone who is at least 35 years old will become available and they will give up their draft picks. Or Yannic Perault might make a comeback so they can pick him up for a fourth time.
2
I now have a rooting interesting in this series aside from pure masochism and watching Crosby and Giroux!
1
When Crosby grabbed Hartnell in the 3rd, Staal had a look on his face like "are you kidding me." He clearly didn't want to get involved in another pointless scrum started by his team. I give him credit though for being one of the few Pens in that game for still trying. He's earned more of my respect.
19
For the last couple years I have been waiting for him to get fed up and insist on a trade. Frankly after this pathetic excuse for a playoff series, I hope he finds a good team that could use him. I don't watch enough of other teams so I don't really know who could use him, but put him with reliable top four wingers and he will be a great shutdown 30 goal scorer.
8
How does Ryan Clowe for Staal sound?
Clowe would fit in great with your guys new personality.
:P
2
Bad
2
- Clowe is not a center and we have plenty of centers already.
- Clowe does fight, does hit hard, but he is not a dirty, cheap shot player.
1
You know I was just making a joke right.
2
This. I think he was hoping for cups and thought he'd stick it out to be part of an incredible team, but when the results aren't there.......
0
He was with us when we won the cup in 2009. We've subsequently lost the last two. What more do you want?
2
I've been saying this for a while - I'm not convinced that the Pens will re-sign him when his contract is up. I don't think Staal is a #1 center. But I also don't think he's going to be happy centering a third line. I also think the Pens have a surplus of centers, and a number of big contracts coming up in the next few years that are going to require that they find some money somewhere.
Don't get me wrong - I think Staal is a great player and I appreciate what he does for the Pens. I think he'd be sorely missed. But I can't really see him staying in Pittsburgh forever.
I think it's unfortunate timing that this is coming out now, because people are going to relate it to how things have been going in the playoffs and I suspect that it really has very little to do with that.
13
if anything i think they trade him before his contract is up to get something in return instead of letting him just walk away..
3
They sure as shit better.
2
I'm getting the dark, sinking feeling that this will be the Penguins' last season in the playoffs for a while. We've got one more season before most of the core team goes to UFA,and the salaries that are really locked in for the next few years are mostly unreliable players (e.g. Martin and Michalek). Expect some major trades this summer, too, since some of the core players just had career seasons and probably won't perform at that level again in their careers. I could see trading Adams, Staal, Kennedy, or maybe even Dupuis for some of what we're lacking. Oh and not to mention that we don't have a whole lot of great prospects in the pipeline.
We're also going to need a decent backup goalie. Johnson just isn't cutting it and Theissen simply isn't NHL-ready.
tl;dr: Expect to see major painful rearrangements of the lineup this summer. Also expect that the next 2-3 years may see the Pens miss a few playoff seasons.
1
You are underestimating just how bad a team can be to get into the playoffs. It really isn't that hard, even Toronto was in the race this year..
2
Someone come up with a list of cities Jordan Staal is a #1 center, I can't think of more than a few.
10
Toronto is the first that comes to mind.
36
Who isn't a #1 center in Toronto, though?
41
Their current centers.
115
ಠ_ಠ
25
They have centers?
6
Well played indeed
0
Upvote for you sir!
-4
Reminds me of a DGB joke, something along the lines of one of the benefits to signing with Toronto to be a backup goalie would be instantly make becoming the teams best center too.
3
"Reimer! Take off the goalie pads...you're playing top-line centre tonight!"
1
Toronto and a few other bad teams, but to me Staal is an ideal 2nd line center with his shutdown abilities and offensive upside. That upside isn't first line material IMO, Who wants a 50 point #1C?
-2
To be fair he gets stuck with the hard assignments as the 3rd line shut down center and his line mates are Cooke and ManBearPig. If he was paired with first line material I think he'd be 60+ easily.
16
But ManBearPig is a great winger...
9
If he was first or second line, I think he'd have more than 50 points.
13
That upside isn't first line material IMO, Who wants a 50 point #1C?
David Backes says otherwise.
9
50 pts getting 3rd line minutes playing only 62 games...
6
So that makes him 23rd in PPG among centers, so he's barely a first line C on a few teams, which I said.
-6
I absolutely agree with you.
1
[deleted]
1
Buffalo, Calgary, Colorado, Columbus, Florida, Minny, Montreal, Phoenix, St. Louis, Toronto, Winnipeg. Maybe even Anaheim after Getzlaf's terrible performance this season.
Keep in mind when comparing stats with other centres in the league, Staal got 50 points in 62 games while playing on the 2nd/3rd line all season.
10
Minny
Jordan Staal is in no way better than Mikko Koivu
St. Louis
Backes is basically Staal
Otherwise agree, a handful of non-playoff teams could use Staal as a 1st C, but really that is not his most effective role. Shutting other teams players down, while also being responsible for all of the offence? Heavy load.
4
St. Louis
He'd be second line status in St. Louis, after Backes. Not that the Blues would ever go after him anyway.
2
Your selections of Colorado, Florida, Minny and St. Louis are all pretty debatable. I would say he is definitely not 1st right away in any of those (think: Stasny, Duchene [even O'Rielly] - Wiess - Koivu - Oshie) Maybe he could develop into a number one on these teams with time or if he showed excellent chemistry with the top wingers but he certainly wouldn't just be handed the job if he arrived tomorrow.
2
He can bring the puck up the ice better than anyone you listed off (except for maybe Duchene because he's fast as fuck, but he had a shit season). I'm not going to debate every player and every stat though, but you bring up a good point about them being debatable.
However, I think the fact that it's worth conversing shows that he could take over the top line in those franchises and it wouldn't be a travesty.
1
Oshie and Koviu are superior forwards and centermen. But both the Blues and Wild would appreciate the forward that Jordan Staal is and he could be huge for both teams. I would be ecstatic if the Wild managed to get ahold of him. Koivu and Staal as a 1-2 would be fantastic for a disciplined and focused team. (which the Wild stopped being but I digress...)
1
So in Colorado we've got Stanstny, Duchene, O'Reilly. McClement, and Olver as centers. I'm not sure he'd be a number one here, but maybe. Duchene is probably our best center when he's playing his best, which he didn't last year. Stastny has been pretty disappointing the past two seasons, I'd take Staal over him in a heartbeat.
2
Yeah, just by going by this season, you could make a good case for Staal being their #1, I have no idea what's been happening with Stastny's numbers for the past bit now.
2
He is not better than Mikko Koivu that's ridiculous. He arguably has a bit more offensive upside but Mikko is one of the best two way centers in the game. There is a lot more to hockey than scoring goals. Mikko deserves some credit for once. He plays phenomenal D against everyones top lines, plays top PP unit, penalty killing, etc. Minnesota can't win when he is out of the lineup he is that good and that important. I'd love for Staal to play in Minnesota but he would be a 2nd line center. I def would hope Minnesota would go after him if he wants out. They have the cap space and I'm sure Fletch has a decent relationship with him from his days in Pittsburgh.
2
He could potentially be better than Eric, at least that is what many were predicting when he was being drafted. We'll never know until he is getting 1st line minutes and PP time. Also, the stress of Captaining a team tends to bring out the best in players like J. Staal.
1
That is what Winnipeg has been saying.
1
[deleted]
0
He was 38th place for centers with 50 points in only 62 games. So there should be quite a few teams that would be willing to take him as a number one.
9
I'd take him as our #1. Almost a PPG player, with little PP time at age 23? Yes please.
4
Carolina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Columbus
EDIT: What about the Caps?
4
Backstrom is a beast. Caps have their #1 Centre...
6
Backstrom is awesome, but the Caps could use a more defensive minded person on that line
1
I don't really think Backstrom is that much of a defensive liability. Ovechkin on the other hand... only when he's playing point and fucks up does he actually try to d.
1
Number 1 over Backstrom? I don't think so. The Caps would love to have him as number 2, though.
6
And do what with MoJo? Drop him to 3rd line or replace Laich/ Knuble as a winger?
1
Yes.
1
mojo can be better served as a winger. then again, so could staal, i wouldnt mind having him on our team
1
Really? You're writing off Eric Staal and his captaincy? Also, add the Flames, Buffalo and (most probably) Montreal to that list.
3
Ah Buffalo would be perfect for him they need someone like him badly. Eric is damn good, but Jordan is younger and would mesh well with the first line/or you could mix Eric and Jordan on the same line and make one a winger.
2
They won a cup on the strength of Eric's play (among many other obvious reasons) and not too long ago this team was given to him to lead back to the promise land. I could see Jordan coming in and playing on the 2nd line and dramatically improving the club (especially with their up and coming talent) but I don't see him coming in and surpassing Eric on the depth chart. Give it a couple more years of mediocrity from Eric and then maybe.
3
Carolina? You mean where his big brother has put up seven consecutive 70+ point seasons?
3
Exactly why it would be ever more awesome to have Jordan there. Then get Marc and you have an amazing chemistry automatically. Eric Staal is fantastic but I could see him on the 2nd line or on the same line with Jordan, make Jordan a winger
2
1st line center in Carolina? No.
Second line center in Carolina? Yes please. I've been wanting this for a while now.
3
Columbus, Dallas?, Minnesota?
I don't know the western teams that well, I am just throwing ideas out there. I think he is a 2nd anyway. If he wants to win though he will have to settle for being a 3 most places. I would gladly take him as our 3rd in Boston.
3
He is most definitely a 2nd (at least) on a ton of teams out there and first on more. Definitely not Minny or even Dallas though.
1
I can see him in Dallas. I'm not sold on Riberio and Benn probably belongs on the wing more than center. Dallas doesn't really have that much depth in center, especially with offensive upside.
1
True, he could become the number 1 in Dallas, I just don't think he steps into that spot straight away. Not with the year the first line had.
1
Calgary
3
I'd take him as our #1 in a heart beat.
23 years old. 220lbs. Near PPG player with almost no PP time. Plays against the toughest competition as a defensive forward.
Yes, please.
2
Umm Calgary? Our last #1 centre was Nieuwendyk. I'm really not even over exaggerating either.
2
Montreal
1
He would be a good fit in Nashville or Montreal
1
alanrobinson22:
[2012/04/17][01:29:27]
[[Translate]](http://translate.google.com/#auto|auto|Have heard from multiple people Staal not content to remain in current role much longer. He could be No 1 center in a lot of cities. 'google translate this tweet'): Have heard from multiple people Staal not content to remain in current role much longer. He could be No 1 center in a lot of cities.
[This comment was posted by a bot][FAQ][[Did I get it wrong?]](http://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=tweet_poster&subject=Error%20Report&message=[Oops!](http://reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/sef3i\)%0d%0dPlease leave the subject and this link unaltered, but feel free to add a description here. 'report an error')
9
Ok, i'll be the one to beg Jay Feaster - PLEASE figure out a way to trade Iginla for Staal. Package whatever else you need to get this big 24 year old center with both offensive upside and defensive awareness.
9
PLEASE figure out a way to trade Iginla for Staal.
Staal's contract has a $4 million cap hit. Iginla's is $7 million, and the Penguins either need to resign (Sullivan) or replace (Asham) a few players. Can the Penguins even afford Iginla right now?
8
Shero could probably find a way. Just don't think the flames would do it they seem to be going down with the ship in regards to this current core of players . (outsiders perspective) As a flyers fan I am not in favor of this said trade
7
[deleted]
1
The fatman in charge of Calgary (forget his name) was nodding his head like someone was dangling a donut when asked if they were cleaning house next year. Iggy's gone.
0
Well thats about 2 years too late.
2
If they got Iginla, then Sullivan is extraneous, Iginla becomes the veteran winger in Pitt's top 6 (and a hell of an upgrade on Sullivan). Calgary could also take one of Pittsburgh's unwanted contracts that is big enough to bridge the gap.
5
PAUL MARTIN PAUL MARTIN PAUL MARTIN PAUL MARTIN
13
I hate scapegoating, but seriously. Get this guy outta here.
5
Wow. I liked him on the Devils. What's wrong with him?
1
Take Michalek as well!
1
We might be able to! Lets snatch him up!
3
We could use Iggy bad, he's right handed but the money probably won't be right. We really need to add a top six forward with a right handed shot.
1
Well, it all depends on the timing really. This won't happen next year (probably) but if the wings have the space and he's available I wouldn't pass him up.
1
No. No they cannot.
2
Seriously, if he leaves, I'm not buying another hockey sweater again.
9
Still trying to figure out what to do with that Talbot jersey, eh?
14
I have a Gonchar (Pens) and a Staal, my wife has a Talbot that I refuse to let her wear.
11
At least you don't have a Hossa jersey. A friend of mine bought one and has since refused to ever buy a jersey with a player's name on it again.
6
I feel like the Talbot jersey is almost like the Hossa jersey.
0
whoa bad luck... you could be like me who picked up a Riemer jersey at the beginning of this year
ಠ_ಠ
2
Worst part is you got a misspelled jersey.
10
While I know this won't happen...
1st line: Hall-Nugent-Hopkins-Eberle
2nd line: Yakupov-Staal-Hemsky/Pajaarvi/Fuck it who cares
Gives me a half-chubby just thinking about it.
9
Scumbag Oilers: Is the best team in NHL 13
Still finishes in the bottom 5 in real life.
27
My scenario? First overall for Staal and a/some picks. Also see if Horcoff for Martin is possible. we need defense, try him out here, he was worth 5 mill for some reason. We would be taking a centre from them so we give up horcoff (haha, give up on maybe) and it's affordable for them with Martin coming back.
2
I was interested until you said Horcoff.
His contact is too big for the Pens to be interested. Plus, if they need to have center men. They can get Vitale to center the third line in his absence.
I don't know, I just have a strange feeling that if the Pens do end up getting swept management might overreact. I feel that the Pens might end up with two first round draft picks in Pittsburgh this year, rather than one...
2
taking horcoff's contract is likely the only way to rid yourselves of Martin's...
2
It certainly feels like that at times. But, if the CBA doesn't change too much. I'd see us putting him in the minors. It's doubtful they'll wanna take in anybody even close to Martin's salary at this point.
1
... for a minute I thought you had 4 guys on the 1st line. Then I remembered that Nugent-Hopkins is only one guy!
2
Haha, I didn't even notice that. Maybe I should've thought more about using a hyphen to separate the players
2
Would really hate to lose Staal. Gained a lot more respect proving he can keep his head above the fray this series. That said, I understand his reasoning.
7
Oh god, please columbus, please columbus...
7
Yeah, your last power forward Canadian center from Ontario worked out great...
13
Sometimes "lol" is the perfect response. Such is the case here. Upvote!
3
If we can drop Howson, and pick up Staal, we have Umberger, Staal, and Nash as a first line. Johansen, Atkinson, and Brassard on 2. that will give us quite a bit of potential, I think. York looks promising too, hopefully no Mason curse happens.
2
All I ask is that Columbus doesn't trade their 1st round pick for him. The thought of the penguins having a top 2 pick disturbs me.
5
Well, the last time we had one we took Staal.
1
AND... lets queue the 'to the TML rumours'.
E3 as per my sources....
7
I think losing Staal would take away that depth the Pens have that threatens other teams generally making them so difficult to stop. I agree that he can certainly play a more active role than 3rd line centre, but like stated elsewhere his defensive abilities make him a huge asset. It'd be interesting to see what he could do in a full season at 1st/2nd line centre now that he's matured as a player.
6
The thing that's infuriating about this is that Staal was a beast with Dupuis and Sullivan on the second line and Bylsma messed with that line so that Crosby wouldn't be playing 3rd line even though the Crosby-Cooke-Kennedy line was actually pretty productive too.
Frankly, I feel like the way Crosby came back right before the playoffs ruined the season in a big way, both because it changed the focus on the game and because it meant that Bylsma spent the last two weeks of the season changing lines to suit Crosby's needs rather than the team's needs.
6
There will be people who criticize you for saying having Crosby back screwed things up for the Pens. I am not one of those people.
4
While I love Staal, there are a lot of factors that the numbers don't always tell. While his 50pts over 62 games looks really nice, it must be noted that everyone scores with the penguins. They play a run and gun type offense that leads to a lot of scoring and a lot of points (9.6 points/game). In another, more defense oriented style, those numbers would most certainly go down.
Additionally, as a 3rd line center, he sees equivalent defenses. Teams are often preoccupied with stopping Crosby and Malkin so Staal sees the most favorable matchups of anyone on the team. Last year, with Crosby and Malkin out, he had 11 goals over 42 games. This was with over 21 minutes/game and only 2.5 of on the PK. And while there are no numbers to support this, you could see that when he was the main man, he just wasn't as strong offensively.
Ultimately, like has been said, he's a fantastic all-around player, a stand-up guy, and I like him as a 2nd line center. I just don't think people should expect a substantial jump in production if he comes out of Crosby and Malkin's collective shadow.
6
I think he needs to go hang with Gary Roberts this summer.
2
He would be a great fit with a bunch of other teams. Unfortunately he would still be a 2 or 3 on most of those other teams (Boston, NYR, Detroit, STL). Obviously he would be good anywhere, but a player with his defensive awareness would fit best in a defensive system and he would stand out the most there.
5
As a Rangers fan, I'd love to have a collection of Staals.
9
Man where would you guys store all your centers? You already have 6 or 7 of them.
3
I don't even know lol. I'm not sure there are any glaring weaknesses. Maybe a left wing to trade for? I just want another Staal, honestly.
7
Let's not get greedy haha.
2
A lot of our centers can also play the wing. We even have Bickel who can play both wing and defense. I feel that for the first time in a very long time we have a team of interchangeable parts instead of a team with stubbornly aging superstars.
2
A lot of our centers seem better off on the wing, like Dubinsky and Anisimov.
1
I'd love to have him in Boston too but I am not sure he has the edge that is almost required to be a Bruin. And he would still have to be a 3rd in Boston for him to play, with Krejci and Bergeron ahead of him and Seguin waiting for Krejci to leave
1
The Hurricanes are leading in that category right now. Maybe he should go there and you can gift wrap Marc for the full set?
1
Well it's not that I want just any team to have this collection, I want the Rangers to :)
2
I figured as much. I would love to collect the Staal's too. The Rangers collecting them? Not such a big fan of that though
1
[deleted]
1
I think Staal would be a great fit for L.A.'s style. Not sure who they would trade for him though, considering how well their doing right now.
Still though, I think he'd shine in a place like that.
3
Obviously he would be good anywhere, but a player with his defensive awareness would fit best in a defensive system and he would stand out the most there.
... ahem.
2
Would it be greedy of me to want him in Chicago?
Sharp Toews Kane
Saad Staal Hossa
That would solve our 2C problems...
5
perhaps, but that just sounds delicious.
2
It's worth noting that most of the Pen's key skaters deals are winding down in the next year or two. Staal and Crosby's deals both expire in 2013, and Malkin's expires in 2014. Orpik and Letang's deals also both expire in 2014.
Maybe Shero can pull it off, but I don't see him being able to renew all three centers long-term. Wouldn't be surprised to see one traded to allow them to sign the other two (and shore up other positions).
3
No. Odds are if Staal really is unhappy, and wont sign a deal, Shero will trade him, possibly this offseason. Maybe for some DEFENSE.
4
It always comes back to this. Any time someone writes about Letang, they always mention what a bargain he is. He's going to get more money. It's gotta come from somewhere.
2
Crosby, Malkin, and Letang are all going to get big deals. I think Staal will be the odd man out.
5
That's what I think too, especially now that they've signed Neal to that six-year deal.
3
how much is he being paid?
2
$3.5 million. He'll be an unrestricted FA in 2014.
3
It's going to suck if they end up losing their top defensive forward.
3
Top defensive forward isn't exactly high praise, given the recent quality of the Penguins' defensive work.
2
I heard Vancouver has an extra goalie the Pens could definitely use, one account of them currently not having one.
edit, on account
3
Implying that Fleury has been bad this series is completely ridiculous. He's had absolutely awful defense in front of him. When you give up the puck in your own end, allow short handed breakaways, and odd man rushes every other possession, it's not the goalie's fault.
5
The defense has been bad in front of him, but come on. He has clearly had a terrible series; shots from the outside that he let trickle in, the terrible rebounds, and what the hell was that one goal where he flung it into his own net with his glove? Atrocious.
3
I fault him for maybe 8 goals at most. Maybe. That leaves twelve due to defensive lapses and errors, if not more. He hasn't had a great series but he has made some good stops. One can only bail out the D so many times before the score starts to pile up.
1
so he should go to Vancouver to be the number 3 centre again behind Kesler and Sedin?
3
[deleted]
1
[deleted]
1
I'm probably in the minority, but I would be fine with trading Kesler as long as there's a suitable replacement. He just doesn't seem focused on playing hockey often enough and his antics have been getting hard to stomach. We were promised that swapping in Pahlsson for Hodgson would free up Kesler to focus on offence; instead they both had six points after the deadline.
It's probably just the disappointment talking though. He can be a game-changing force when he wants to. It just doesn't look he cares.
1
It dawned on me last game that Staal is the only penguin I don't hate. Even amongst the chaos he stayed professional and looked out of touch with his childish teammates.
Does anyone hate any of the Staals? They just seem like hard working guys from some rural Canadian town. Eric competes so hard he even knocked his brother Marc unconscious.
I'd rock my sibling pretty hard too if I had to compete against them. Especially with all that taunting and mouthing to each other growing up.
Especially if it was a little brother who was protected by the parents and you couldn't hit just cause he was "little" and the little brother would use this to harass to no end.
Eric probably remembered a time where Marc took his favorite hockey puck and he couldn't get it back cause his parents said he had to share.
I'm not really a fan of Jared, he fails to live up to the Staal name of being a good hockey player.
Got to feel bad for the poor kid. He is a pro player in the AHL, and he is the disappointment of the family.
I don't think Alex Semin likes them too much.
Thunder Bay.
I've heard, from people who have dated him in Pittsburgh, that he's kinda a douche off-ice, but that really doesn't matter I guess. These people could also just be bitter and he could be a wonderful gentleman
There are very few women who aren't bitter post breakup.
Malkin gained more of my respect as well, he stayed out of it too
Malkin has stayed out of most of the playoffs so far, soooooo ...
sigh...
hahahaha ahh that was good
[deleted]
Btw, you being a Preds fan, have you guys signed Weber to any extension, or working on one?
I have no idea, honestly. I've seen and heard very little about Weber and Suter.
hahhaaaaaaa fuck :(
[deleted]
4 points in 3 games.
No goals and a -4
Don't forget about the way Malkin played against us the last game of the season. So many punches/shoves after the whistle and no calls.
oh i didnt forget that. he definitely was playing a little chippy, but nothing dirty or something to get mad about
I have always been a fan of Jordan...he plays great hockey and it seems that he generally keeps his mouth shut and sticks to his game...it probably helped that he grew up in such a competitive hockey family
You hate Michalek? Paul Martin? Dupuis? Sullivan? Surely this was a work of exaggeration.
Anyone who doesn't like the Pens probably loves Paul Martin after this season.
Yep. Edit: it was exaggeration