Eric Staal is playing great especially of late and has been rewarded as the NHL’s Third Star of the Week. Looking at the numbers it looks as if Staal is on pace to be back to the point levels that made him one of the NHL’s best.
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Eric Staal is back. Many thought the Minnesota Wild were gambling on the 32 year-old by signing him this offseason. The general thought was that he was not going to ever be back to his 70 point a season self.
That was actually a sound theory as Staal had failed to eclipse that point mark since the 2011-12 season. His point production was on a steady decline since 2013-14 when he scored 61 points till last season when all he could muster was 39 points in time with Carolina and the Rangers. It just seemed like age had caught up to him and that this sub 40 point season was to be the norm and not the exception going forward.
This season however Staal has already registered 24 points in 30 games. A good bit of that coming in the last week where he saw 6 points in four games and was named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week. Staal is on a pace right now to register somewhere between 65 to 70 points at this pace. That seems a lot more like the Eric Staal the all-star rather than Eric Staal the aging center in decline.
Oct 15, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Eric Staal (12) celebrates his goal during the second period against the Winnipeg Jets at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Taking the 70 point mark as a constant mark of Staal’s glory years, then you can see the Wild are actually getting the version Eric Staal that made such a big name for himself in the league. The gamble seems to have paid off, and not to mention he was signed at such a bargain $3.5 million for three seasons.
In addition to playing well himself he seems to be elevating the game of all those around him. Linemate Charlie Coyle is second in points behind stall with 22 thus far, and seems to be adding even more to his already improving game.
Also the leadership of Staal can’t be understated. As a veteran of 13 NHL seasons and former captain of the Hurricanes, Staal was sure to bring another important and needed veteran presence that the Wild needed to solidify a struggling team dynamic.
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His reaction to his Third Star Award says it all about the type of environment he’s fostering right now. When asked by Dane Mizutani of the Pioneer Press about the honor, he was quick to put the emphasis away from him and on the team. ““ou know, our team had a really good week, we’re on a good roll. It’s one of those things where league-wide it’s recognized. … It’s a reflection of how well our team is doing right now.”
Hearing the positive leadership along with the solid point production should give Wild fans hope that Staal is back to the Eric Staal of old. The numbers certainly point to that being the case and the words also do as well. That’s a good thing as the season matures and the proven experience and performance of Staal will be one if not the Wild’s biggest asset.
