Now on the left wing for the Carolina Hurricanes, Eric Staal ...
Don't expect that to happen. Staal was used on the wing at Canada's Olympic orientation camp last week in Calgary and said he enjoyed it, but certainly not enough to tell Canes coach Paul Mauirce he'd like to make a shift this season.
"It's different," Staal said today. "You're used to playing center most of your life. But in the end, it's still hockey, and it's still a game.
"I feel like I'm a pretty versatile guy who can kinda play in every situation and play the left side and play it well, which is what I want to do. Hopefully I'll get that opportunity (for Team Canada)."
Staal said he played the wing "a little bit" as a rookie with the Canes and as very young player.
"I'd rather stick to my natural position for our team here," he said, smiling.
Staal came away from the four-day camp in Calgary feeling good about his performance. He said brothers Jordan and Marc also did their part in impressing the coaches.
"Hopefully I'll get a good start to this year and be there in February," he said.
Vancouver, that is. With Team Canada.
]
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
Big
Fri, 09/25/2009 - 23:04 — windyfostBig surprise~~~~~~~~~~
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Better at wing
Thu, 09/03/2009 - 11:14 — HockeydogThe fact that Staal played Center most of his life means for most of his life he's been the best player on his team. Just like the kids in Little League who pitch, play shortstop, and bat cleanup. Once they grow up they find their position, sometimes it is neither pitcher or shortstop, and they don't bat cleanup.
My point is that Staal is not bad at Center, but at the NHL level his skills are more of a winger than a center. He's not great at face-offs, and while he is a good passer and can make the nice feed, he is no natural setup man. He was drafted as a Ronnie Francis type player but time has not agreed with that. He is more like a Jeff O'Neill - who was most effective in the NHL once moved to wing. Now the Canes should play him at center because they don't have anyone else who could be considered a first line Center, as Ronnie Francis was when O'Neill was moved to wing. However the organization should keep in the back of their minds that Staal could be a force at wing, more so than at center- if a #1 center ever came thier way.
Staal
Wed, 09/02/2009 - 15:31 — GoShelfIt seems the only way he'll make that squad is if he plays on the wing. As good as he played last season, he finished 8th in points on the list of Canadian centers. If he wants a shot he's going to have to tear it up early. He's on the list of bubble players that have until December to make an their mark.
Yo Biff
Tue, 09/01/2009 - 15:29 — esteban1949Please don't even go there... :-} As i truly appreciated abramsdoug's efforts and actually printed it off..so i'd have it for later...enjoy the rest of the week...
Go Canes !!
Staal is not allowed to play wing...
Tue, 09/01/2009 - 13:56 — Biff_Beers... because abramsdoug would have to make massive edits to his comment about the forward line combinations. Who would play center with Staal at wing? Joni Pitkanen?