By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
Penguins Jordan Staal celebrates his second goal of the third period of Game 4.
Jordan Staal is one lucky kid for a reason that goes far beyond his extraordinary hockey skills, the fact his team has a real shot at winning the Stanley Cup and the enormous payday he's looking at in the near future.
"It was my first funeral ever," Staal said yesterday of his trip home last week to Thunder Bay, Ontario, to bury his paternal grandfather, John.
Staal acknowledged not every guy makes it past his 19th birthday without losing a loved one, but that didn't make this trip any easier. His grandfather had been ill for months, but the finality of the telephone call Monday jarred him. Staal played in Game 3 Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers because his teammates were depending on him, because it's what a member of hockey's First Family is supposed to do and because, well, that's what his opa would have wanted. He flew home Wednesday on a private plane arranged by former Penguins teammate and landlord Mark Recchi, "an unbelievable guy ... I've never met a better man in my life." Staal was back in Philadelphia for Game 4 Thursday night, played his usual lights-out defense and scored two third-period goals that gave the Penguins a chance in a 4-2 loss.
"He played probably his best game of the playoffs," Penguins coach Michel Therrien said with some amazement.
It was just the latest surprise from a player who, if you're ranking the Penguins in terms of importance, is right there behind Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Marc-Andre Fleury.
Last season, Staal defied all odds by making the Penguins as a winger out of training camp just days past his 18th birthday Sept. 10. It's not terribly unusual for someone that young to play in the NHL -- Crosby and Mario Lemieux come to mind, for instance -- but those players usually make it because of their great offensive skills, not because of their understanding of the defensive game. "That's very rare," Therrien said.
This season, Therrien moved Staal to center on the team's third line, giving him even more responsibility. Staal's goals total dropped from 29 to 12, but he continued to play wonderful defense and is the Penguins' top penalty-killer.
And here's the best part of the Staal story:
"He's not going to stop surprising us any time soon," Therrien said. "He's just going to get better and better."
This is a kid who the Penguins can't and won't, under any circumstances, let get away. Asked yesterday if he has thought about being filthy rich, Staal said he hadn't, what with his grandfather's illness and the ongoing playoffs. "But I will say I'd rather play for a winner than just make a lot of money." Then, he smiled and said, "Of course, any guy would want both."
Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
Jordan Staal takes the puck away from the Flyers' Randy Jones in Game 3.
For now, Staal is content as a third-liner because Therrien gives him so much ice time on the penalty kill and the power play. He averages nearly 17 minutes per game, more than any of the Penguins' forwards but Crosby, Malkin, Marian Hossa and Ryan Malone.
"He's doing a fantastic job," Therrien said. "We forget that he's 19 years old because he doesn't play like he's 19."
Down the road, Staal sees himself being more of an offensive force. "I know I can be a player who puts up numbers. I want to be great on both sides of the puck."
Staal's strong defensive play doesn't figure to change. He sees the game and reads the plays so much better than other young players. His 6-foot-4 height and long reach also help, as does his film study. Today, before the Penguins try to close out the Flyers in Game 5 at Mellon Arena, Therrien and the players will review tape of Game 4. Therrien said Staal will be among those paying the closest attention and will take what he learns out on the ice.
"We definitely don't want to go back to Philly," Staal said. "It ain't fun playing there. We want to get this done right now."
If it happens, Staal almost certainly will make a major contribution, one way or another. If the Penguins win the Cup, he'll be able to take great satisfaction knowing he had a starring role.
But he won't be the first Staal to have his name engraved on hockey's precious prize.
Brother Eric played on Carolina's Cup-winning team in 2006. Another brother, Marc, is a promising young defenseman with the New York Rangers, the team the Penguins took out in the second round of these playoffs. Yet another brother, Jared, is playing in the Ontario Hockey League and seems certain to make it to the NHL.
A question begged to be asked:
Did Jordan touch the Cup when Eric brought it to the family home after that '06 season?
"No way," Jordan Staal said, almost recoiling in horror.
It's a hockey rule that you don't put your hands on the Cup until you and your teammates lift it in the air to carry it around the rink as world champions.
"I'm only a little superstitious," Staal said, "but that's something I don't want to mess with."
Staal's only regret is that his grandfather won't get to see him carry the trophy, should he be so fortunate. John Staal, who came from the Netherlands to Canada and started the family's sod farm, loved seeing Eric with it. According to Jordan, he watched every game the three brothers played on his television.
"He was so proud of our accomplishments," Staal said, quietly.
The kid isn't the only lucky one.
The old man was pretty lucky, too.
Ron Cook can be reached at rcook@post-gazette.com.
First published on May 18, 2008 at 12:00 am
No comments:
Post a Comment