Watching Staal squirm on the ice made me nauseous. Really scary situation. Lost in all of this is how well Stepan has been playing. His stride is still awkward but his foot speed has improved, and along with Nash creating room, he has the space to make the type of plays he was making before turning pro.
I've been saying this for the last couple weeks. Stepan is doing great this year. Two points tonight, eight points over the last ten games. You know Torts has been impressed with his play. Starting off the half of the season so far, he was playing 16 minutes or so a game. All of a sudden he's got games where he's seeing 20+ minutes. An extra few shifts a game. Really, he's shining when he's on the same line with Nash and Hagelin.
Stepan does appear to be a tad quicker tome too. Odd but it seems he gained a half step. Andits definitely helped his game. Maybe he can become a little stronger on the puck also?
I would expect him to. Stepan became a full time NHL player at the age of 20 because of his brain and his vision. He was not physically ready to play at this level. If he was a player with just average intelligence, he'd just now be decent enough to crack an NHL roster. He'll never be a #1C or a dominant presence, but he'll settle in as a consistent 60 point, strong two way 2nd line center, imo.
I look forward to having a strong core of Steps, Nash, Miller, Hags, Mcilrath, Kredier, McD, Staal, Cally, (maybe Delzaster) and Hank going forward. Im thinking wit Stepan's play we punt Richards in the offseason via a buyout.
Fuck I hope he is ok...I was hoping it was not the eye...I hope he is ok as this sort of stuff is career damaging. Brian berard 2.0... wear a visor people. Hope it got more above the eye. Damn
Fasth could be part of the core, too. He might even be used like Kreider was last year if we need him. Speaking of Kreider, for the first time all year he's playing really well in Hartford. 4 goals in 3 games (all near the front of the net) and using his size and speed on the fore and back check.
Gruesome, however my sons boss told him he will be OK, not sure if that means won't lose his eye, detached retina, broken eye socket, broken orbital bone, but that easily could have been a career ender...
Flying lately, throwing the body, forechecking, has to get better on faceoffs, Torts made Boyle take the faceoffs on the PP and brought Steps in on the fly...
Good job by Haley agitating Hartnell into 10 minute misconduct and Bickel for nailing him in the face
I promised myself I would never buy a jersey from the NHL again after the lockout. Rick Nash is making this really hard on me. I have a true man crush on that beast
