07/08 Player Profile - #14 Matt Stajan
#14
Stajan, Matt
6' 1" 200 lbs Mississauga, ON, CA
12/19/1983
2006/07
GM G A PTS PIM PPG SHG GWG SH SH% +/-
82 10 29 39 44 1 1 1 132 7.6 3
Stajan made his NHL début for the Toronto Maple Leafs pre lockout. This extra year in the league should have him better prepared him and furthered his development. Just being around the number of experienced players on that 2003/04 Leafs roster should have helped. However, in comparison to peers like Wellwood and Steen, he has been dramatically outplayed in the last two seasons. For this season he should compete for 4th line center with the likes of Kuelimin, and Pohl. If infact he cannot better these two, place the .8 million with the Marlies.
His first year could be considered a success with the expectations being as low as they were. In limited time he was able to show signs of why he could earn a roster spot in the League. During the lockout season in the AHL, he did take a step backwards. The organization was looking for him to take hold of the situation and team giving that he was able to stick with the big club the year earlier. He didn’t, and the light began to shine on other prospects. 2005/06 was a good return year, his game was not there yet, but he showed great defensive presence and was a menace of the PK. He followed that up by holding out, thus adding supplementary negativity to what the Leafs organization previously had.
In regards to his play, to bottom line it, he just isn’t physically strong or physically fit enough to play the game he has to play to be successful in the NHL. Stajan is a fairly intelligent player on the ice, when he is fit to play he gets to lanes and works hard down low, his skates are always moving. Many of his points are generated from turnovers. He has average speed, although it seemed as he lost a step in comparison to the 2005/06 season. His greatest talent is his ability to forecheck behind the icing line. That said, this talent is often brushed aside by bigger and stronger players. More proof to his lack of strength is his inability to win faceoffs. Things got so bad in this regard a move for Yanic Perreault had to be made, costing the team Brendan Bell. If Stajan is to develop into the checking center everyone hoped while watching the World juniors, he needs to improve his strength and endurance, because far to many times Stajan would be caught watching instead of getting his nose dirty.
Stajan, Matt
6' 1" 200 lbs Mississauga, ON, CA
12/19/1983
2006/07
GM G A PTS PIM PPG SHG GWG SH SH% +/-
82 10 29 39 44 1 1 1 132 7.6 3
Stajan made his NHL début for the Toronto Maple Leafs pre lockout. This extra year in the league should have him better prepared him and furthered his development. Just being around the number of experienced players on that 2003/04 Leafs roster should have helped. However, in comparison to peers like Wellwood and Steen, he has been dramatically outplayed in the last two seasons. For this season he should compete for 4th line center with the likes of Kuelimin, and Pohl. If infact he cannot better these two, place the .8 million with the Marlies.
His first year could be considered a success with the expectations being as low as they were. In limited time he was able to show signs of why he could earn a roster spot in the League. During the lockout season in the AHL, he did take a step backwards. The organization was looking for him to take hold of the situation and team giving that he was able to stick with the big club the year earlier. He didn’t, and the light began to shine on other prospects. 2005/06 was a good return year, his game was not there yet, but he showed great defensive presence and was a menace of the PK. He followed that up by holding out, thus adding supplementary negativity to what the Leafs organization previously had.
In regards to his play, to bottom line it, he just isn’t physically strong or physically fit enough to play the game he has to play to be successful in the NHL. Stajan is a fairly intelligent player on the ice, when he is fit to play he gets to lanes and works hard down low, his skates are always moving. Many of his points are generated from turnovers. He has average speed, although it seemed as he lost a step in comparison to the 2005/06 season. His greatest talent is his ability to forecheck behind the icing line. That said, this talent is often brushed aside by bigger and stronger players. More proof to his lack of strength is his inability to win faceoffs. Things got so bad in this regard a move for Yanic Perreault had to be made, costing the team Brendan Bell. If Stajan is to develop into the checking center everyone hoped while watching the World juniors, he needs to improve his strength and endurance, because far to many times Stajan would be caught watching instead of getting his nose dirty.
posted by LEAFER at
11:00 AM
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