"It's unbelievable," the 5-foot-8, 170-pound defenseman said of the deal. "Obviously it was a goal of mine at the start of the year to sign a pro contract. To be able to do it with such a great organization and with so many great people involved is a real honor. I can't wait to get started."
Following the cancellation of the 2020-21 OHL season due to COVID-19, Staios got a taste of what life is like in the professional ranks. In addition to appearing in six games in the AHL with Utica, he briefly went overseas to join Huddinge IK of HockeyEttan in Sweden for nine games.
Well, whatever he picked up in that time clearly had a positive effect.
Pulling off a spectacular curtain call during his final season in the OHL, Staios took his game to a new level with the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2021-22. His 66 points (15 goals, 51 assists) not only led all defenseman in the OHL, but were also the most-ever by a blueliner in Hamilton's history.
For his efforts, he was named Defenseman of the Year in the CHL and also took home the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the Most Outstanding Defenseman in the OHL. Notable past winners of the Kaminsky include Nicolaus Hague (2018), Mikahil Sergachev (2016) and Aaron Ekblad (2014).
In the postseason, Staios recorded nine points (three goals, six assists) over 13 games to help the Bulldogs capture the OHL Championship. Earning a spot in the Memorial Cup, Hamilton, which went 16-3 during the playoffs, finished second to the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL.
"It was a great year," Staios said. "Obviously I've got to give credit to my teammates. We had a great group there in Hamilton, really tight. Throughout the year we grew as a group, made a really far run and won a championship and made it to the Mem Cup. It was a great year overall for me personally. I think I developed really well throughout the year due to my coaches and the support staff. I had every opportunity to get better as a player and as a person, and I think I did that."
If Staios' name sounds familiar, there's a good reason. His father, Steve, skated in 1,001 games over the course of stints with the Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, Atlanta Thrashers, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and New York Islanders during an impressive 16-season career in the NHL from 1995-96 to 2011-2012.
But while Steve was known more for the defensive side of his game, Nathan, as evidenced by his historic point total in the OHL this past season, much prefers to have the puck on his stick.
"He was more of a shutdown guy, but I do take some stuff from his game and work into mine in the defensive zone," Staios said. "I like to watch guys like Torey Krug, Josh Morrissey, guys like that in the offensive zone, more puck-possession guys, guys who can make plays and make the guys around them better. I'd say those are two guys that I try to model my own game after."
As far as fatherly advice goes, it's about being a good person as well as a good player.
"On the ice he lets the coaches take care of everything," Staios said. "For off the ice, just treat everybody with respect. It doesn't matter who it is -- trainers, management, even the bus drivers, it doesn't matter who it is. Just treat everybody with respect and how you want to be treated."
Willing and eager to play "wherever they want me" during the upcoming season, Staios is hoping to use this week's development camp as a jumping off point as he works to eventually carve out a spot somewhere within the Panthers' system for his rookie season in the pros.
"I'm earning as much as I can from the great people involved here," Staios said. "Getting to meet a bunch of the guys that I'm going to be around the next however many years in this organization and connecting with them, too. It's been great. We've gotten a bunch of good info on the organization and the on-ice sessions have been really good. I've felt great."
Speaking of the road ahead, Panthers General Manager Bill Zito said he's looking forward to seeing how Staios develops during his journey throughout the organization's strong pipeline.
"He's a smart, heady guy that can move the puck," Zito said. "The puck movers, it seems to be our theme moving forward. You can never have enough guys like that."
