Eric Staal signs one-day contract with Carolina, officially retiring. Team to retire his number this season.

[GIN ANTONIC]

05-06 was only his 2nd NHL season because of the strike wiping out 04-05.


Koivu was a much, much better defensive player.

He played a full season in the AHL in 04-05 which is still considered pro hockey. I'm assuming that is the distinction that is being made here. 2nd NHL season for 05-06 is correct though. That lockout year probably actually did him a great deal of development in the grand scheme of things. Funny how that worked out well for him but for a guy like Ovechkin forced him to start his NHL career a year late and be further back on his goal/point totals.

 

[njdevils1982]

Lol... I know it's all jokes but you guys have Ken Daneyko's number retired so please take cover in that glass house of yours!

your right, its just a light joke for fun

but you mentioned dano so i have to bring up glen wesley.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

your right, its just a light joke for fun

but you mentioned dano so i have to bring up glen wesley.

If those two played 1 on 1 hockey against each other would there even be a shot on net???

 

[Realm]

I hope they retire his Pride jersey.

 

[Bradely]

Eric Staal Signs One-Day Contract, Retires From NHL | Carolina Hurricanes

Hurricanes to retire Staal’s number 12 at to-be-determined date

www.nhl.com

Thought the guy would play til 50. Great career.

 

[Felidae]

Probably the best center the Wild have ever had....lol. Sad but true.

Minnesota Staal was better than Mikko Koivu? Idk about that.

That being said, top 3 for sure lol.

 

[wetcoast]

05-06 was only his 2nd NHL season because of the strike wiping out 04-05.

Sure but the poster I was responding to said this

Impressive career, although based on his rookie year, it could be argued he never truly lived up to his potential.

Also his second pro season in the AHL was very good but didn't show elite potential more of a solid first line center.

 

[Dickie Dunn]

Minnesota Staal was better than Mikko Koivu? Idk about that.

That being said, top 3 for sure lol.

Koivu was a great center but never someone you wanted as your #1 and the driver of your offense. He was a lot of the reason the Wild couldn't score in the playoffs, he wasn't that guy to drive it when you needed it. He was mis-cast as a #1C.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Funny how that worked out well for him but for a guy like Ovechkin forced him to start his NHL career a year late and be further back on his goal/point totals.

And a then another dynamic, for guys who had been in the league for a while. Some of them were totally unable to continue after the lockout (eg Brett Hull) while others benefited from the time off and came back looking like new men (Selanne, Lidstrom).

That year really re-shuffled the deck in interesting and unpredictable ways.

 

[MartyOwns]

bye bye, hypocritical scumbag!