Staal still looking to improve game

This past season gave Eric Staal a lot to remember.

He signed the seven-year, $57.75 million contract extension. He scored 40 goals for the second time in his career. He led the Hurricanes back into the playoffs and scored 10 goals, with none bigger than the one with 31.7 seconds left in Game 7 against New Jersey that beat Martin Brodeur and the Devils.

Then there was the Eastern Conference finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. There was the matchup with his brother, Jordan. There was the four-game sweep by the Pens. That, too, will be remembered. Painful, but memorable.

"You always remember the last series because what could have been, moving on to the Stanley Cup finals," Staal said. "For me, facing off against my brother. It's not the result we wanted.

"But you're always going to  have some good memories. Memories of down and out and getting it done against Jersey and then a huge win in Game 7 against Boston." 

But Staal, while the team's biggest star and the face of the organization, said today there is still room for improvement in his game and approach to a season.

"I didn't have the start I wanted," Staal said. "I felt like I was working hard, and trying and competing. And maybe at some points too hard, and it was working against me.

"I think for me personally, with the help of Jimmy (Rutherford), Paul (Maurice), Ronnie (Francis) and the rest of the coaching staff helping me figure out what I needed to do to make me effective, whether it be scoring or whether it be playing good defensively, I think I figured that out on what makes me good night in and night out.

"It kind of happened January, February, right after the coaching change, I kind of figured out my game a little bit more. I was really satisfied with the way I played the second half and throughout the playoffs. Hopefully I can start with that right away at the beginning of the year and help this team get back to another chance at the Cup."

Staal credited Erik Cole with helping him make a strong second-half push. Cole, traded by the Canes to Edmonton after last season, was reacquired March 4 on the trade deadline and soon was back on Staal's line.

"He has a lot of speed and a lot of power in his game," Staal said. "I think for me, when he came in at the deadline it was just a different look. Obviously we have some chemistry together from playing together four years. ...  I think it pushed me and elevated my game."

Cole is an unrestricted free agent and will be one of Rutherford's biggest offseason decisions — how much to offer the forward.

"We'll see what happens," Staal said. "But he's a great player and if they can get him back it's not going to hurt our team at all."