Nagging Injuries Mount for Carolina

My opinion is that Staal is not 100% and he’s not making an impact on the game. Why not sit him out until he’s 100%? What difference is it going to make? Maybe, just maybe one of the kids from Albany can give this team some life and jump start them again.

If he can skate let him play, other teams see him as a threat and sometimes double up on him. Even if you have to prop him up in the corner like a scarecrow, that way other teams will keep an eye on him. Just like a scarecrow you never know when they’ll come to life (and maybe score a goal).

You already know my opinion on this one Bob (I like being the anonymous reader). And you make a good point about the severity of the injury having an impact on whether he sits or not. If it was something career threatening I feel pretty safe in assuming that the coaching staff would duct tape him to a chair in the press box before they would let him play. But on the flip side of that coin, if it is a groin issue, him pushing himself may make it more severe to the point that he can’t play when we need him the most.

I still say sit him until he’s better. If they do it to the mighty Brind’amour then why not to Staal?

I went with “trust the coaches et al”. But I can see the wisdom of Stall missing the trip to the Island, and joining the team in Colorado – 4 more days of rest and physical therapy might do wonders.

And it’s not a long trip from Albany to LI….(but I wish there was some other place for Brandon to re-appear remembering his last outing)

As is often the case HM speaks for me on this one. I voted to trust the coaches as well. If Staal’s ailment is one that could improve significantly with full rest, then the NYI game does seem like an appropriate time to rest him, the layover between last Saturday night and this Friday night is a schedule luxury we don’t often have.

Based on what I heard from Tom Rowe’s interview with Tripp yesterday at the STH practice, they practically have to hog tie him in the locker room to keep him off the ice for practice.

I think between Staal & the coaching staff, they have the experience to make the decision whether he plays or not. That being said, what happened to all the secondary scoring this team was supposed to have? Is there no one to step up? One of the great aspects of this team was supposed to be depth, and the fact that almost anyone could score a coupla goals. The only other player who has stepped up seems to be Whitney. Where is everyone else?

Staal is hands down our best forward, and 80% of him is still better than most of the league. If he can play, I feel he should, the team needs some jolt to get the scoring going, and I dont know if sitting him for any amount of time is the right idea for such jolt. He’s a tough man, i.e. taking that Cullen shot to the ear vs Boston, getting several stitches, and coming back and scoring in the 3rd. I think this whole injury bug just boils down to the shortened pre-season, and players not being in top shape. This causes rotating lines, which causes chemistry to not develop. One they get healthier, and the lines become more solidified, I believe the scoring will fall right back into place. BUT, I don’t think sitting Staal is a good move at this point in the season, nonetheless.

I agree with Briney. I also think Rod has an influence on Staal in the locker room (not the hot tub..) Rod is a machine in his work out routine and how hard he pushes. I think Staal looks up to that and trys to push himself as hard. The trouble is when the bod hurts, it’s telling you something. I think he should take a breather and get right. I also think it would be good for Mo to have the luxury of him not being in the locker room during ass chewing time. Which is where I think they are. Bring up a kid, Sutter does seem like a good choice. I also say just insert him in Staals spot, don’t screw with the rest of the lines. Sutter has played plenty of PK minutes in the NHL, he’s faced top lines and D pairings, he with the help of Ruutu and Ray can keep the the first lines off Cam enough to maybe get 2nd, 3rd or even 4th line help. You go jumbling the lines and what little chemistry has been built goes away. Not too mention if anygame is one to have a little faith going into it’s the Isle’s.
 My take on not skating in practice is if you can’t prctice because it’s too bad, then a game is worse. Nobody is trying to kill him at practice, where out on the frozen field of battle he doesn’t have that luxury.
  I say screw the streak and sit him and see what happens. When he’s back to normal turn him loose.
  I also disagree with whomever said a 70% Staal is better than most all other forwards. No he’s a friggin’ anchor and doing his job. He’s not earning 70% of his pay, he has to be 100% to be the Staal we need and are paying for. 70% makes him a target not a distraction.

A

I don’t think this has anything to do with the streak. It’s more about a desire to play. IMO, he’s a guy who could care less about numbers as long as the team’s winning. Now, if you wanted to make the argument that trying to make Team Canada is part of it, I could at least see some logic to that.

Let look at the logic of this. The guy is already hurt and he is not practicing, which means him reflexes/strength/chemistry with the team/ and mind set is NOT where it needs to be to play in a game. He is risking further injury, and is not playing on par with what we need.

BUT… I chose the “trust the staff” option. Why? I really do not know…. because stars are the exception to the rules? Staal and Ward are our stars.

Staal, Cullen, Samsonov and CWard all sitting out practice according to Chip A’s tweets. AWard is back.

Wonder wussup with Sammy and Cullen?

Might be a bad idea to sit Staal, just for the simple fact that when he does return, it’ll take him a while to get back to game speed. Staal is a warrior, and he’ll probably wait till the olympic break to take the time off.. or he’ll play for team Canada? Damn you Staal!! put this team first!!!!

Fortunately, it’s the pros’ choice, and not the amateurs’, as to whether he skates or not. And, that was my vote, to have it be that way.

Despite opinions to the contrary, Staal’s been a handful for the opposing team’s defense every game this year. If he, and the staff, thinks he can skate, then he’s welcome to do so as far as I’m concerned.

And, realistically, we just do not have a #1 center in the system ready to drop into his place. Even a field promotion of Cullen is suspect, since he’s out of today’s practice and hasn’t looked 100 percent to me. That assumes he could handle the stint even when he is hitting on all cylinders.

Further, while Sutter would be a good replacement for Cullen, should that field promotion occur, he’s not a candidate to replace Staal’s role on the top line.

So, if Staal can keep going and rest the practice days, then my guess is that will be the way the org decides to go.

I go with a different view than those stated above. I don’t think he should be put in the press box (unless he truly does need to sit), but at the same time I think part of the problem is how much he’s been playing. If he’s got a nagging injury 20 minutes a night is not good.

Just look at this last game against NJ. The Devils get a 5-on-3, and who is the forward on the ice? Staal. He did good, but how much more taxing can you get on a guy than that? There’s no way he should be out there for any PK right now – not that he’s not good at it (amazingly, his d-game has improved greatly the past several years) – but because they ought to rest him. It’s not like the Canes don’t have any players who can play the PK.

Keep the chemistry on the other three lines, and cut down the TOI for the first line for now unless Staal shows he can play more at a higher level. That’s what they need to do.