Staal proving he's got plenty left in tank with Wild

LOS ANGELES -- It's somehow fitting that the rebirth of center Eric Staal is happening in St. Paul, Minnesota, the closest NHL venue to Thunder Bay, Ontario, where he was born and raised in a storied hockey family.
Staal is showing the bounce-back season he had with the Minnesota Wild in 2016-17 was no fluke. He is the Wild's leading scorer with 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists) in 29 games this season, taking over the scoring lead with two goals and one assist in a 4-3 overtime win against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on Sunday.

Staal was coming off his worst offensive season (13 goals, 26 assists) in more than a decade when he signed a three-year, $10.5 million contract with the Wild on July 1, 2016. He quickly became the bargain find of his free agent class with 65 points (28 goals, 37 assists) in 82 games, and has built on that performance this season.
"I think his demise was [written] way too soon," Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said.

Boudreau will tell you that Staal's consistency, ability to play in all situations and leadership have kept the Wild in the Stanley Cup Playoff race during an injury-ravaged season. Though forward Zach Parise had back surgery in October and the Wild have had to get by without forwards Charlie Coyle, Mikael Granlund and Nino Niederreiter for extended periods, they are 15-11-3 and hold the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference.
Staal is a big reason why.
"The one great thing about Eric is I've had him in so many combinations, not once has he ever complained," Boudreau said. "Not once. He always says, 'Whatever you think is good for the team.' Not a lot of people over my career have said that."
Boudreau likes to say that Staal doesn't play like a 33-year-old. Staal agrees.
"I feel like a young 33," he said. "I feel good right now. I've always been fortunate to be a good skater and I think that's beneficial in this game. It's been fun joining this group and playing the type of game that I'm playing. Bruce has put me in position to be successful."
Minnesota was able to get him at such a reasonable price because of the dip in Staal's play in 2015-16, a season of upheaval that included being traded from the Carolina Hurricanes to the New York Rangers on Feb. 28, 2016. The combined 39 points was his fewest since he had 33 (10 goals, 23 assists) as a rookie with Carolina in 2003-04.
Staal and Justin Williams were kids, 21 and 24, respectively, when they helped Carolina win the Stanley Cup in 2006.

Williams was traded the by the Hurricanes to the Los Angeles Kings on March 5, 2009. He would sign as a free agent with the Washington Capitals on July 2, 2015 and then return to the Hurricanes this past offseason. The trade to Los Angeles, he said, was a learning and motivating experience.
"Once you get traded, it is eye-opening," Williams said. "You're like, 'Hey, one team had enough of me.' It's time to show you still have it. He is certainly doing that. He's making an impact. He's showing he's still an elite player in this league.
"He's from a Staal pedigree. We've got one here. They've got big hearts."
That would be Eric's younger brother Jordan Staal, who is in his sixth season with the Hurricanes. Marc Staal is a defenseman with the Rangers and another brother, Jared Staal, played in Scotland last season.
Jordan said the relative proximity to Thunder Bay -- a six-hour drive is nothing for the Staals -- has helped his older brother. Family and friends can drive to a Wild game, and Staal's parents are closer to their grandchildren, Eric's three boys.
"It's a great spot for him, a great hockey market," Jordan said. "He's a guy that plays off adrenaline, plays off a feel for the game. When he gets going, he's a tough guy to stop.
"He might not be flashy but he's good. We miss him here."
The demands in Minnesota are different and in some ways, better for Staal, who was captain in Carolina from 2010-11 until he was traded. He can be a leader with the Wild, but Mikko Koivu is the captain.
"When you miss the playoffs as many times as we did [in Carolina], it weighs on you," he said of the Hurricanes, who haven't reached the postseason since 2009. "It's difficult when you're trying to do the best you can to be successful and it's not working.
"To be able to come here and join an established group, a playoff team for a consistent number of years, and just come in and do my thing, and be who I am. It's definitely different and easier I would say. I've been enjoying it."
Boudreau said he spelled out a specific plan when he spoke with Staal before he signed with the Wild.
"I said, 'You're a No. 1 center. You're going to be the No. 1 center,'" Boudreau said. " 'You're back to playing 20 minutes. You're playing in all situations.
"'I can't picture you, all of a sudden losing it,' I said, 'This is my plan for you and I think it's your plan for yourself. That you want to prove to the world you still have it. I want to be able to give your that opportunity.' Evidently, he liked what he heard because he signed in about an hour."

The highlight of Staal's 2016-17 season came when he played his 1,000th NHL game (at the Winnipeg Jets) on March 19, becoming the first member of the vaunted 2003 NHL Draft class to reach that milestone.
"Time marches on," said Staal, the No. 2 pick in 2003 behind goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins. "It's crazy how fast it's gone, to be honest. I've got a couple photos from back then, and a couple pictures from before the draft with some of the guys and some with a little less hair now.
"It's pretty cool that a lot of guys are still vital players to their teams."