STAAL WON’T BE TRADED

STAAL WON’T BE TRADED

11:14pm - Friday, December 4th, 2009 by Mark Madden

By MARK MADDEN

When Jordan Staal trade rumors first circulated a few years ago, I asked Ray Shero for comment. The Penguins GM bluntly replied: “I am not trading Jordan Staal.”

It still goes.

The latest tripe has Staal going to Los Angeles for winger Dustin Brown, with different versions including different players. Defenseman Jack Johnson, Sidney Crosby’s prep-school buddy, is often mentioned as coming to Pittsburgh. But Crosby isn’t the Pens’ de facto GM, and loneliness is no problem for Sid.

The Kings likely scoff at such innuendo, too. Brown, their captain, is signed to a pact that pays $3.175 million per year through 2013-14. Excellent player, affordable contract.

The Kings might like to deal Johnson. The third pick overall in 2005, it’s too early to call Johnson a bust, but he is underachieving.

Staal is an important part of the Penguins’ three-center model. Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Staal allow the Pens to dominate slot to slot for 60 minutes. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Staal’s bulk, wingspan and defensive acumen make him brutal to play against.

Staal doesn’t score a ton. He doesn’t need to, though it’s worth noting he has one more goal than Brown.

Anyway, the Penguins aren’t broken. Why would Shero try to fix them?

The team is 20-9 despite an epidemic of injuries not often seen in any sport. Staal is playing excellent two-way hockey. Lack of production at wing is frustrating for all three centers, sure. But winning trumps all.

(Don’t think that stats aren’t important to players like Crosby and Malkin, though. I talked to Sid after he netted twice against Colorado Thursday and asked him if he was leading the league in goals. “Two behind [Marian] Gaborik,” he instantly replied. Guys like that KNOW.)

When the wing problem gets fixed, it will be through the development of Luca Caputi and Eric Tangradi. Caputi may have turned a corner at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, netting nine goals in 21 games including five in his last nine games and six on the power play. It would not be shocking to see the Pens give Caputi a lengthy look in January.

Bottom line: Staal isn’t going anywhere. His current contract runs through 2013-14, so he can buy, not rent.

When I ran the Staal-to-LA rumor by Shero after Thursday’s win, he was talking to Mario Lemieux, and Shero said to Mario, “Mark is the guy who told me, on the ice in Detroit [after Game 7], to never listen to him if he said to trade Staal.” True story, and it’s also true that I once did endorse trading Staal for a scoring winger. No more.

Shero then said, “I couldn’t trade him if I wanted to. No interest.”

Added Mario, “Nobody wants him.”

The latter two facetious remarks were made for the benefit of Staal, who happened to be wandering by. He wasn’t listening. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

Those who believe Jordan Staal trade rumors must be very happy.

Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).

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Comments

Steelers=Champs

Great article MM. Love the quote from Mario

12/04/2009 11:17pm

SV84

This isn't anything new or surprising, yet people still want him traded. Unless they get the moon then he will not and probably should not be traded.

12/04/2009 11:26pm

SV84

Very nice article. As long as the core starys together and they keep wining I don't mind the three centers and changing wingers.

12/04/2009 11:29pm

zerocool6687

Its nice to know I feel the same way about this kid as the Legend himself number 66 and the architect Ray Shero... however we have guys on this site light yrs smarter then those two and maybe we should trade him (another facetious remark.)

12/05/2009 12:14am

jeffed

Zero-Do you really think that even if Mario and/or Shero would tell Mark Madden the truth if they actually did or were trying to at one point trade the almighty Staal? What point would they have to tell him that?

12/05/2009 12:20am

jeffed

For some reason I can't remember hearing anything about the Pens trading Ryan Whitney either, he was a big part of the "young core" as well. Did Shero tell you he was trading Whitney Madden?

12/05/2009 12:22am

grocis

D I know for sure and I think others were talking for months last year that Whitney was on the trade block

12/05/2009 12:35am

jjjr24

Based on the way the team is built at this time i can't possibly think of a guy i'd rather have for 4 million a year. If you want him traded right now I would suggest having a cat scan to check for complications.

12/05/2009 12:39am

zerocool6687

True dat! Not gonna lie... I seen the Whitney trade coming a mile away (as I am sure most of us did)

12/05/2009 12:47am

willowtip

Staal is a winner and a special player, plain and simple. he is a monster in the playoffs. even as an eighteen year old he was one of the few that showed up the first year against ottawa. without him we do not beat detroit. there is no reason to get rid of him

12/05/2009 3:13am

BradSpicher

why do people keep asking for jordan to be traded he is an integral part of the team the three center lines are working why mess with it any one who wants a trade from this stanley cup team is a moron

12/05/2009 3:31am

BradSpicher

jordon stays period

12/05/2009 3:31am

BradSpicher

you are all idiots if you think otherwise

12/05/2009 3:32am

Samtheman

staal line made crosby line easier to breath in the playoffs

12/05/2009 4:49am

SeaneeRo66

Aside from Sid and Malkin, nobody should be 100% untouchable. Look at what the Lindros trade did for Quebec/Colorado. Shero has to field offers, which will create these rumors, but the Pens shouldn't trade Staal unless a team makes an offer that's too good to turn down.

12/05/2009 8:49am

wolfman

thanks Mark, you may have to repost this article one a month, we may regress back to confusion.

12/05/2009 9:00am

wolfman

seaneero66, no one can deny the impact of the block buster trade. i can't recall: were either Quebec or Colorado returning s.c. champs? or in first place in their division?

12/05/2009 9:08am

Ben_66

Your not fooling anybody Madden.

12/05/2009 9:16am

Strike

I can't think of too many scenarios that trading Staal makes sense.

12/05/2009 9:59am

Strike

Of course in 1991 I thought the Penguins would never, ever even think of trading Cully......

12/05/2009 10:20am

burghcity19

Look at the age of Whitney when he was traded and how old staal is now. Big difference when staal get up in age and the ending of his contract penguins will have to re look his trade value and importants of keeping him here. They don't want to make same mistake they did by re signing Whitney and end up not getting much for him. Still think we should try to get something for Kunitz he doesn't fit well in sid line and make to much money to be not scoring sorry you can find grit players for less. Aka rupp !!!!

12/05/2009 11:03am

Mark Madden does a good job on his radio show being an ass and getting ratings, but when it comes to actual sports commentary I usually ignore it. Mark makes remarks based on feelings. AKA Big Ben.

12/05/2009 11:22am

Also, Do you really believe that Shero and Mario would ever leak a trade rumor, especially to Mark Madden??? You want to cause a rift in the locker room with one of your star centerman, you tell Mark that u plan on trading him and he will undoubtedly find out...

12/05/2009 11:28am

yeah highly doubt that staal has no trade interest. im sure teams would love to have him, but our askin price is prob high though. and the gm of the team is not gonna tell someone what theyre doing unless its publically know ( for instance the dany heatly sitiuation when he was attempted to be traded to the oilers)

12/05/2009 11:56am

SV84

Jeffed-Everyone wanted Whitney traded and you can tell management was trying hard to get rid of him since he was in every trade rumor from the 2008 draft to the day he was traded in February.

12/05/2009 12:22pm

zerocool6687

Wolf... The Nordiques were good but were not the best in their Div quite yet... beyond that tho Eric handcuffed the Nords as he flat out refused to play. This guys was very much overhyped and never played a game in the NHL but due to the hype Philly was willing to move what in the end turned out to be too much for Eric (Forsberg for Eric straight up would have almost been fair!). That would be the huge difference between a Staal compared to Lindros trade... if Staal was even being moved that is. jeffed just to repost something that I though I posted last night as it pertains to Whitney... Shero may not have stated he was going to be moved but there was a lot of bad press surrounding him that Jordan is not receiving. It was very apparent that many people in the media were expecting it and although they dont make the decisions those in the media near the team will get a feeling for these things based on interviews with the people that do!

12/05/2009 12:29pm

PG is reporting that Crosby is out for tonights game.

12/05/2009 12:40pm

jeffed

Why does everybody baby Jordan Staal. If he doesn't score, it's because he's to young and he doesn't get powerplay time. Being critical of someone doesn't mean he should be traded. Obviously right now there's no reason to get rid of the guy, this team has done nothing wrong in the past 14 months.

12/05/2009 1:27pm

Coulson

bourque back to the caps. asta lawago

12/05/2009 1:46pm

Samtheman

only time staal would be traded is when his contract is up but for now his safe

12/05/2009 2:12pm

zerocool6687

I agree jeffed that being critical is not a bad thing however people tend to go a little over board and thats where the arguments develop. I myself was critical of Malkin this yr when he got off to what could be described as an "off" start and was ripped on for it yet I also made it a point to make sure there was no way to infer moving him. I know you were not making the claim to trade Staal however others were basically saying we would be better off even if they didnt flat out say "trade him".

12/05/2009 2:19pm

cpykosh

Confirmed Crosby out tonight

12/05/2009 2:34pm

wolfman

jeffed, i don't think Staal gets the baby treatment at all. there's a preety big controverssy in that some fans see his value as a team player and future potential, where other fans judge him on a nightly basis. actually i think it boils down to differences in appreciation for the game instead of the arguement over Staal as a player....

12/05/2009 2:48pm

wolfman

jeffed = 'pretty'

12/05/2009 2:49pm

wolfman

some fans enjoy quick results, hightlight real goals, pure straightforward offense and point totals as a point of focus. others enjoy a balanced team, a winning record and a run at the stanley cup ie: a championship caliber team.

12/05/2009 2:56pm

jeffed

I'm pretty critical of Staal on a nightly basis but it's because you can tell he doesn't work on things like shooting and puck control skills. People were critical of Crosby for face-off skills but he worked on it and got better. So when I'm critical thats why. I want to see a 21 year old get better not just flat-line and be ok as a third line center. When Sid or Geno are out I'd like to have him step up and be able to roll on a top scoring line.

12/05/2009 5:06pm

Jerkhart66

If your going with e three center mentality..then Stall would have to be that type of player.....thats if crosby and malkin ever miss time together...god forbid.

12/05/2009 5:11pm

EXACTLY!!! Jerkhart hit the nail on the head! Where would the team be if 2 of our highest paid players (Sid and Geno) were trying to recover??? No depth at scoring after that... How the hell does San Jose do it!???

12/05/2009 5:54pm

pensfan37

4 million is too much for a third line center and Staal has proved he's nothing more than a thrid line center. The team is fine now but next year when Feds and Guerin are gone who's the top 6 wingers? Tangradi? Caputi? Your going to put 2 guys who have 1 NHL goal between them on the top lines of a Stanley cup contending team? Also theirs a guy that way more valueable to this team than Jordan Staal and thats Gonchar and he needs a new contract. In the salary cap era you can't keep everybody and I would rather see Staal go than to start next season with a 2 rookies on the top lines and Gonchar gone.

12/05/2009 5:58pm

seabs926

pensfan, Staal put up 49 points last year. That was good for 40th among C's. That puts him well into 2nd line C status, and we all know he does much more than put up points. If you only count even strength points, I think that puts him around 30th among C's. Considering he doesn't get a whole lot of PP time and when he does he has to play with Bourque, Fedotenko, etc, I think he's worth the 4M.

12/05/2009 6:09pm

so wrong

12/05/2009 6:11pm

(the gonchar over staal comment)

12/05/2009 6:11pm

pensfan37

seabs, Staal's offensive number are misleading. He plays behind the two best centers in the NHL other team are so worried about Crosby and Malkin it makes it much easier for Staal. Staal has a chance now Crosbys out tonight maybe longer Staals on the 2nd line. Lets see what he can do.

12/05/2009 8:16pm

dirtmccurt

pensfan that statement was just dumb. Do you know how other teams respond to guys like Crosby and Malkin, they point their 3rd line (or whatever line their defensive line is) out against them. Now if you're smart you'll realize that that leaves their top line for Staal's line. So racking up 50pts a year while also keeping guys like Heatley, Gaborik and Ovechkin off the scoreboard is very good.

12/05/2009 9:28pm

zerocool6687

This debate is getting tiresome. Im not sure what Staal will have to do to change minds... I dont think he could unless he became a premiere number 1 guy it seems! I like the kid and think he is a valuable asset to the team. I believe that he will continue to grow as a player. I know a lot of you dont and we will have to agree to disagree!

12/05/2009 10:30pm

↑ previous comments ↑

wolfman

points in 9 out of the last 11 games, those aren't madden's (john) 3rd line numbers.

12/05/2009 11:00pm

Mark Madden

Ray and Mario were kidding around. They weren't "leaking" anything. Staal isn't going to be traded. Your "expertise" doesn't figure into this. It's just not gonna happen. Ray never said he wasn't gonna trade Whitney. He said he's not gonna trade Staal. I am the acknowledged expert on this team, w/more inside knowledge than anybody (who doesn't pos under an alias).

12/06/2009 2:21am