Jordan Staal: What To Expect?
Jesse Marshall | Pittsburgh Penguins
Sep 30, 09:49 AM | Hype this story!
Three years into his NHL career, Jordan Staal remains an enigma among Penguin fans everywhere.
Some view him as an overpaid, under-achieving third line center. A young man not worthy of the contract recently bestowed upon him. This group belives that there are other viable third line options on the market that would be as valuable as Staal without the price tag.
Then there is the opposing view, Staal is one of the smartest young players in the league and is an asset at all ends of the ice. His young game is still developing and his offensive potential is largely untapped.
So what is Jordan Staal to the Pittsburgh Penguins? Which of those viewpoints is the correct one?
I think we got a glimpse of the answer during the Stanley Cup finals.
With the Penguins trailing 2-1 in Game 4, Jordan Staal flipped the switch and produced what could be considered the most impressive and dominant goal of the year. In fact, during a summer discussion on the popular Let’s Go Pens message board, many posters pointed to this exact moment as the turning point in the entire series.
This moment set-up Jordan Staal for a big opportunity in 2009. Without the everyday media pressures that Crosby and Malkin have, Staal has the opportunity to be a dominant force on the ice. He, in only his third season in the NHL, has achieved what many never will. He, like all the other young Penguin forwards, is now a Stanley Cup champion.
The video clip above shows Jordan Staal using his long stride, strong body, and long reach to dominate the opposition and create chances.
Last year we saw the third line change the tempo of tight games because of their posesssion capabilities and Staal’s stellar defensive play.
It’s safe to say that, depsite all that, the argument on Staal still rages on. 2009 will be a telling year for this youngster as he continues to find his way.
Despite the willingness of many to write-off the value of a solid third line center that is not only an offensive threat, but a defensive powerhouse, Staal’s role deserves the check it was given. Remember the fits that John Madden gave Sidney Crosby?
Remember this as well, Staal is a kid. He’s still honing his game. This is a player that left Peterborough of the OHL to come to his first NHL training camp and never returned. Instead of playing for the Pete’s, he scored 29 goals as a rookie and dominated the opposition with short-handed goals galore.
Staal is still finding his way, and as he continues to, we’ll see more moments like the one posted above.
What side of the fence are you on? Whichever it may be, one thing is clear, this season will tell us a lot about the development and future of the Penguins oft-forgotten center.
Comments
MJD
Sep 30, 10:42 AM
Great article. I’m on Staal’s side of the fence. No matter what happens in the future, he was worth the #2 pick and he was worth the big paycheck. Why? Because without Jordan Staal, the Pittsburgh Penguins are not Stanley Cup Champions. Nuff said.
Dabich
Sep 30, 10:49 AM
Great write up Jesse! One thing people seem to forget…Jordan Staal MUST do what his coaches tell him to do. Whether it be penalty kill, third line center, second line fill-in, whatever. What people must understand is that Jordan Staal makes the MOST of his OPPORTUNITIES. He plays to the best of his ability (most of the time-no one is perfect) if he’s penalty killing or centering a line. He fits in where he is needed and does it without complaint. This is the type of player that wins games and yes, Stanley Cups. This is why he’s considered one of the “core” players of this team. And he is improving all the time. I can’t wait to see how he plays this season. Jordan Staal does whatever he can for the benefit of his team. He’s a true team player, and very unselfish at that.
Ed
Sep 30, 11:15 AM
I am definitely on the Stall side… I think that a lot of people have developed unreal expectations for Stall based on the 29 goal rookie year. I don’t want to say that was a fluke but to expect him at 19 years old to return the next year and repeat that performance was overly optimistic. What amazes me with Stall is that he rarely has a mental breakdown or shows an unwillingness to be responsible defense. For a player that young to be that responsible is very very impressive.
And all of those nay sayers will be very happy that we have Stall if Crosby or Malkin ever get hurt.
emo
Sep 30, 11:18 AM
People get too hung up on labels. Yeah, Staal was our #3 center last year, but if you take the time to look a little deeper, you’ll find out only two forward averaged more ice time than he did – 87 and 71. He’s way more important to this team than the “3rd line center” tag indicates.
Nate
Sep 30, 12:17 PM
TRADE HIM NOW! He’s young, we can still get value for him!
Nate
Sep 30, 12:21 PM
Oh…sorry about that last comment, I thought I was still over at LGP.
Pens1967
Sep 30, 12:55 PM
I always saw Staal as the next closest thing the team will have to Ron Francis. Just a very dependable two-way forward who goes about his job without fuss or fanfare.
Staal has shown he has another level for the playoffs, too.
BTW, in the P-G’s roster, they has Staal up to 240lbs! That is a load for any team to handle.
Dabich
Sep 30, 01:23 PM
Nate LOL!
Pens, boy did you nail it. Ronnie was my favorite player for the years he was a Penguin. A dependable player who never complained and never let ya down.
Zach Boslett
Sep 30, 01:39 PM
@Pens1967
If Staal has 1/10 the career Francis had I will be happy. Francis was amazing severely underrated by fans in Pittsburgh.
Staal needs to improve his shot and faceoffs this season to take the next step in his development. In the future, he could take facoffs for Malkin and be his defensive conscience and physical winger.
Staal will have another improved season, hopefully with more assists as well as goals. He flourished in Bylsma’s system and look for a big year from Gronk!
bag o' pucks
Sep 30, 01:53 PM
Cliche’s are most often cliche’s because there’s a hefty degree of truth to them. One cliche’ that I wholeheartedly subscribe to is that strength down the middle is vital to win championships.
Just one example: Philly will throw Pronger and Carle at Crosby. They will throw Timmonen and Coburn at Malkin. Who are they going to put out there while Staal’s playing? Ryan Parent and Danny Syvret? Able defensemen, sure. But that matchup is a win for Pittsburgh.
If they go Richards-Corsby and Carter-Malkin, that leaves Claude Giroux as Staal’s opposite. As much as I like Giroux, again, that’s a win for Pittsburgh.
I don’t think Staal would fare too well as a top two centerman, but he’s better than a third line centerman. Crosby and Malkin really do allow Staal to excel in his role, and that’s not taking away from how good the kid is. The reverse is true, too. If Staal didn’t eat PK minutes, some of those would have to go to Sid & Geno, which would subtract from their even strength minutes and weaken the team.
Staal is in a winning position in Pittsburgh, and he also contributes very nicely to putting Pittsburgh in a winning position. A win-win for both parties.
Dabich
Sep 30, 03:31 PM
I just saw that Biz Nasty was claimed by Phoenix…DAYUM! that sucks!
@Pens – I wholeheartedly agree with you that Ronnie was never appreciated by fans in Pittsburgh for what he brought to the team. He wasn’t a flashy player and that’s why it was that way. But THIS FAN knew it. I have a jersey signed by Ronnie – it’s one of my most cherished possessions. When he went to Carolina I was heart broken. To the point, Staal is young…he’s developing his skills. I think he can be quite a player in a few years. A wise coach will bring him thru that way and make the most of his skills.
Malk
Sep 30, 06:26 PM
Good luck to Biz Nasty, but I hope he gets sent down so Pit can re-claim him. No, really, I hope he sticks in the NHL, then next year Pit can resign him.
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