The Gradual Improvement Of Marc Staal

by Bryan Winters on Jan 7, 2012 10:00 AM EST in New York Rangers Analysis

Since Marc Staal has made his return to the line-up, he has been improving very well. Of course it will take some time for Staal to get back into game shape after missing just about half of this season. In his first game back, which happened to be the biggest and most anticipated game of the year, Staal handled himself fairly well.

However, you can easily tell that Staal is not fully ready yet, as he has missed some plays and his speed is not fully there. Of course this is not like the normal Marc Staal we know, but it is gradually getting there. In last night's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Staal began to get the physical part of his game back.

He started hitting, and getting involved in front of his goalie after the whistle. Along with being physical he also had multiple chances in the offensive zone as well. It is great to see Marc Staal getting back into his normal game shape, and it makes the Rangers defense that much stronger.

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Staal definitely had some zip to his game yesterday. Hopefully he feels fine this morning after exchanging body blow with Matt Cooke. If he doesn’t have any setbacks, the Rangers blueline is about to get a whole lot better, which is a scary thought.

by XLII on Jan 7, 2012 10:14 AM EST reply actions

Healthy Staal + Healthy Sauer = friggin game on.

by teknics on Jan 7, 2012 10:19 AM EST via mobile reply actions

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?hlg=20112012,2,594&event=PIT441

by td- on Jan 7, 2012 11:06 AM EST reply actions

I'm curious.....

If the Rangers had someone like Prust (not that the Pruster is in Cooke’s scumbag category) hit Sid Crosby like Cooke hit Staal last night what would the league have done? It was a clean hit by Cooke but it showed yet again that he has zero respect for his fellow players.

"Shoot the Puck Barry, Shoot the puck !" Bill Chadwick

by RangerFanInChicago on Jan 7, 2012 12:23 PM EST reply actions

Liftime ban

R.I.P Derek

Rangers FTW!

by BleedsRangerBlue on Jan 7, 2012 12:32 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

*Lifetime

R.I.P Derek

Rangers FTW!

by BleedsRangerBlue on Jan 7, 2012 12:32 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

absolutely nothing would happen.

by CrazyRangerFan on Jan 7, 2012 1:04 PM EST up reply actions

It was a clean hit. As Joe pointed out last night, Cooke only has 14 PIM this year, seems to have changed his attitude considerably.

by BigB22 on Jan 7, 2012 1:47 PM EST up reply actions

I agree that it was a clean hit. But Cooke did go out of his way to hit Staal. I also understand that if you are on the ice you are fair game. However, professional courtesy (not that Cooke can understand either word) would say you dont test a guy who is just coming back off a consussion. The same way I wouldnt a Ranger hitting Crosby just to hit him a game or two back from his concussion.
14 PIM or not, Cooke is still a douchebag.

"Shoot the Puck Barry, Shoot the puck !" Bill Chadwick

by RangerFanInChicago on Jan 7, 2012 3:50 PM EST up reply actions

I wouldn’t necessarily hold Cooke to the same standards as other players, as far as courtesy and professionalism is concerned!

by BigB22 on Jan 7, 2012 4:30 PM EST up reply actions

I will say, if the outcome is that Staal is 100% fine today, then I am glad he was tested like that, being banged and returning the favor.

by BigB22 on Jan 7, 2012 4:31 PM EST up reply actions

+1 I ‘m with you on that. Hoep he’s fine and now he can start banging some heads!

"Shoot the Puck Barry, Shoot the puck !" Bill Chadwick

by RangerFanInChicago on Jan 7, 2012 9:43 PM EST up reply actions

I really don’t have a problem with the hit clean hard hit. I don’t blame him for testing staal. You know torts told them giroux and Crosby when we played them after injury. Duguay even said the rangers should teat giroux early in his game back against us.

Staal played well he will be second pairing soon stralman was getting beat to often yesterday

by Pballer505 on Jan 7, 2012 7:16 PM EST via mobile reply actions

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