Marc Staal is back in the mix.
Set to embark on his 16th season in the NHL, the veteran defenseman shared his excitement about getting back into the hunt for the playoffs after he signed with the Panthers as a free agent on July 13.
“Very ecstatic about that,” said Staal, who will wear No. 18 with the Cats. “Joining a really talented team that has playoff and Stanley Cup ambitions, to get back into that mix is very exciting. I’m very excited and motivated to join the team.”
At this stage of his career, the playoffs are all about unfinished business for Staal.
Originally selected by the Rangers with the 12th overall pick in 2005, the 35-year-old made it to the postseason in nine of his first 10 seasons in the NHL. During his time with New York, he appeared in 107 playoff games – the second-most in franchise history – and made it to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014.
But after finishing on the outside of the playoff picture each of the last two seasons with the Red Wings, Staal is eager to embrace the weight of playoff expectations and chase the Cup once again after joining a talented Panthers team that captured the Presidents’ Trophy in 2021-22.
“I’m just looking forward to that heightened expectation, that expectation to win every night, said Staal, who’s recorded 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in his postseason career. “To have that pressure of being a team that every other team is looking to beat is a fun thing.”
Crossing the century mark in the NHL last season, Staal, who measures up at an imposing 6-foot-4 and 208 pounds, has produced 214 points (49 goals, 165 assists), 1,162 blocked shots and 1,308 hits over 1,019 career games. the Rangers (2007-08 to 2019-20) and Red Wings (2020-21 to 2021-22).
For the Panthers, that sort of experience made him an easy target during free agency.
“In Marc we saw a veteran guy who logged reasonable minutes last year for a veteran player,” Panthers General Manager Bill Zito said. “He’s smart. He can lend both an on-ice presence to our team and be a leader to our D corps. There’s a lot of positives surrounding Marc.”
Showing his tank is still far from empty, Staal was a steady hand on the blue line during his final season with the Red Wings in 2021-22. In addition to logging 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) – his most since 2014-15 – the stay-at-home stalwart averaged 17:25 of ice time in 71 games.
Despite the fact that Detroit owned the second-worst goal differential in the Atlantic Division at -89, Staal did a good job of limiting the damage whenever he hopped over the boards. Among Red Wings defenseman that played at least 20 games, his -1 rating was the best on the team.
In terms of where he’ll fit in with the Panthers, Staal believes his experience and skillset will complement the team’s young core of defenseman, a versatile and gifted group that features the likes of Aaron Ekblad, Gustav Forsling and Brandon Montour.
“Those guys are pretty well established,” Staal said. “They’re good players in the NHL and know what it takes to come to the rink day in, day out. I’m looking to take care of my business on the ice, lead by example and help out when I can. These guys can play. They’re a very talented group. I’m just excited to be a part of it and help any way that I can.”
For a young and hungry team with Stanley Cup aspirations, that sort of attitude should make him a perfect fit with Florida.
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