Staal's objective: 'I just want to win'

MONTREAL - Life certainly hasn't been easy for Eric Staal this season, but he's smiling now.

SHOP: Drouin player T-shirt
Before being acquired by the Canadiens on Friday afternoon, the 36-year-old centreman was a member of a Buffalo Sabres squad that was winless in 16 straight games.
During that stretch, Staal registered just two assists and could do little to help the club as they sunk to last place in the overall standings.
Then came the transaction that brought the 17-year veteran directly into the thick of the North Division playoff hunt, and he couldn't be happier.
"It feels a little surreal, to be honest. I've played in this building many times and had some really fun games and competitive games. This is the best atmosphere in the League by far, and now to be joining the group and joining the whole city, being a Montreal Canadien is pretty phenomenal," said Staal via Zoom on Sunday morning. "I'm just excited to get started with the guys. It's a great opportunity for me to hopefully finish strong this year."

The Thunder Bay, ON native is currently serving his mandatory quarantine in Montreal, so he won't be practicing with his new teammates right away when on-ice sessions resume at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard.
Staal plans on making the most of his confinement, though, to give his body and mind some much-needed rest after a disappointing showing production-wise in Western New York. He registered only 10 points (3 points, 7 assists) in 32 appearances with Buffalo, which isn't up to his standards.
"At the age I am, it's a chance to recover the body and use this as an advantage. I'm excited to be able to join this group. A lot of guys I already know on this team, and to be able to just integrate with them and get out there and compete, that's all I want to do," insisted Staal. "Hopefully this week goes fast. I'm excited that the quarantine is down to a week, and I can get with the group and be excited to play."
This, of course, will be Staal's first experience playing for a franchise on home soil after previously donning the colors of the Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild and the Sabres.
Admittedly, his new reality hit him just as he was crossing the border on Saturday to begin the six-hour solo trek eastward to Quebec where he'll eventually meet up with former Olympic teammates like captain Shea Weber and Corey Perry.

"Entering back into Canada, now being a Montreal Canadien and playing hockey in Canada, all those things crossed my mind a number of times. Kind of goosebumps here and there," shared Staal. "It's going to be fun. I'm going to embrace it. I'm at the second half of my career and I get an opportunity to play for the Habs. You've got to love it, enjoy it. It's a great chance. I'll do my best to be very good."
The six-time All-Star, who boasts 1,031 points (439 goals, 592 assists) in 1,272 career games, is eager to deliver for his new club in whatever role he's assigned by interim head coach Dominique Ducharme.
He has already communicated that message to both Ducharme and general manager Marc Bergevin, who acquired his services for a third and a fifth-round selection in the 2021 NHL Draft.
"I just want to win, I want to be out there and win, be competitive, and try and help our group win games, wherever that is in the lineup. I will do what I can," mentioned Staal. "I feel like I've got some games left in me and that I can be a contributor. Wherever they have me start, I will work as hard as I can to make sure that I'm out there more than not. It's about trying to win games. That's what I'm here for and looking forward to."
There's a lot about the Canadiens' game and makeup that Staal has appreciated from afar. He identified their pace of play, transition speed, and the mix of veteran experience and youthful energy as elements that caught his eye, along with the "balance up front that can come at you in waves."

As much as Staal wants to put up numbers for the CH, however, the one-time Stanley Cup champion is prepared to do any task necessary to help the cause.
"That's the biggest thing I've learned over my career. When you're with a group that is together and everybody is committed to doing whatever it takes to find success, individually everybody does. That's how I've tried to approach every team I've been on and every situation I've been in, being a contributor, but also having the team in mind and trying to do whatever it takes to win games nightly," explained Staal. "That may not be me scoring two or three a night, but it may be blocking a shot or doing a little thing at the end of a game to help ensure a win. It takes everybody in different roles. When you find that or you have that, it becomes pretty fun to be a part of and it just snowballs."
Sounds like a good soldier, right? It's nice to have him on our side for a change after what he managed to do against the Canadiens over the years, amassing 45 points (22 goals, 23 assists) in 50 games, and causing some serious postseason havoc as well.
Staal certainly hasn't forgotten the events of April 26, 2006 when he got the Hurricanes back on track in their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal versus Montreal when they were down 2-0 in the series.
"It seems like definitely a little bit of irony playing for Montreal. It doesn't feel that long ago that I was in here in the first round of the playoffs that year and potted in the OT winner to kind of get the ball rolling for our group that season. It's crazy," recalled Staal. "The fact that I'm now a Montreal Canadien is exciting. It's an unbelievable market and a phenomenal place to be an NHL player, so I feel grateful for that. I'm going to do what I can, and I look forward to the challenge."
Family matters
As delighted as Staal is to begin anew with the Canadiens, he's missing his family.
When the season started in January, his wife Tanya and three sons Parker, Levi and Finley remained in Minnesota where they're enrolled in school and play hockey.
FaceTime has been a lifeline for the former second-overall selection, who would like nothing more than to be reunited with his crew in the near future in Montreal.
"Hopefully, as we move forward here, I'd love to see us go on a run and we can get my family up here to enjoy a game here at the Bell Centre because there's no better place to play," said Staal. "It's always been my favorite place to play on the road as a player, and now I get to suit up for the home team. It's a pretty phenomenal feeling."

While it remains to be seen if and when the COVID-19 restrictions may be downgraded so fans can return to the rink, it's safe to say the Canadiens have a whole slew of new supporters in the Staal household.
Apparently, his boys "were excited, but also a little bit sad because they wanted to come with," when they learned of the trade that sent their father to his fifth NHL team.
"They're excited to be able to tune in and watch the Habs coming up," revealed Staal. "It's going to be fun to see."