Marc Staal
Neil Becker
29sports.com
An intriguing storyline for hockey fans to keep an eye on this coming season is the sudden emergence of New York Rangers sophomore defenseman Marc Staal.
While you hear more hype surrounding his older brother Eric who has already won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes, and his younger brother Jordan, who played in the finals last year with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Marc enjoyed a stellar rookie season and will be looking to take that all important next step.
This 2005 12th overall pick by New York proved to be the exception of the rule that it takes blue liners a few extra years to mature and excel at the NHL level. In 80 games last year, Staal who by the end of the season was playing up to 20 minutes per game, registered 10 points but for a 21 year old an impressive +2 rating.
At the beginning of the year, Rangers management wasn’t sure whether he should be on the team and by the end of New York’s playoff run, Staal was among the teams best defenseman as he ranked second among rookies by averaging 22:01 of ice time per game.
Making himself noticed by the hockey world, Staal placed first among rookies on the big playoff stage with a +5 which is pretty impressive. Showing his offensive flair, this former Sudbury Wolves standout tied for fifth among rookies with 2 playoff assists and he also added a goal.
Staal who spent his summer training in Thunder Bay is pretty excited about the Rangers selecting a top notch prospect in OHL defenseman Michael De Zotto who is billed as a can’t miss prospect.
“We have a lot of good young talent on the back end right now,” he said. “Adding (Del Zotto) along with guys like (Bobby) Sanguinetti and Michael Sauer, it’s very exciting.” “It keeps us on our toes and makes sure we’re sharp all the time.”
Not forgetting the free agent signings, Staal admitted to being very excited about playing and learning from a veteran defenseman in former Ottawa Senator Wade Redden.
“Obviously Redden is an All Star defenseman, so I’m excited to be on the same ice as him,” he said. “And we added a couple of great forwards too, so it should be a very exciting training camp.”
Currently, Staal is skating four or five times a week and already getting ready for camp and the long marathon season which begins for Staal and the Rangers on October 4 at the Czech Republic against the much improved Tampa Bay Lightning
“I had a lot of fun last year,” said Staal. “I learned a lot and coming into next year with that experience, as little as it is, I think it will help a lot and that things will only continue to get better.”
Right now, the sky is the limit for this young Rangers blue liner who continues to get better and better at such a young age.
