The Matt Stajan Myth?
As Phil Kessel makes his return to Boston, I can’t help but wonder why some people are still asking who the Leafs should get to play with him.
Phil Kessel has been playing with Matt Stajan for most of his time in Toronto. Phil Kessel has 10 goals in 15 games with the Maple Leafs. Phil Kessel is also on a point-per-game pace for the first time in his career. I don’t see a problem here.
Matt Stajan isn’t the greatest playmaker in the world by any means, but he knows enough to get Kessel the puck:
Sure, Stajan is prone to a bad giveaway here and there, and passes up on great scoring chances when he should shoot, but at least he is creating offence.
He’s good at making those short, 3-foot passes on breakouts or in the neutral zone, that lead to scoring chances on the other end:
Sure they are just simple little plays, but they are the right plays. They utilize Kessel’s speed. I’d much rather have Kessel playing with Stajan than a guy like John Mitchell, who would always seem to hang on to the puck too long.
Stajan has assisted on 40% of Kessel’s goals. Sure, it’s not as high as the 54% in the overblown Marc Savard myth, but decent nonetheless. Add in new linemate Alexei Ponikarovsky, and 70% of Kessel’s goals have been assisted by Stajan or Ponikarovsky.
Point is, Kessel is the straw that stirs the drink here. He doesn’t need Marc Savard. He’s doing just fine playing with a pass-first centreman and a big winger on the opposite side.
As Kessel’s become more comfortable, he’s learned how to utilize his teammates and their tendencies. They move the puck well as a 5-man unit and create space for Kessel that way.
By the way, Marc Savard is under a point-per-game pace for the first time in 6 seasons. Enjoy the game.
Follow me on twitter: @SantosDan
December 6th, 2009 at 10:05 am
can you imagine if we kept antropov…kessel wud be at the opposition blue line and good ole nick would be bringing the puck across our blueline…
December 6th, 2009 at 10:25 am
antropov is a sixty point a year guy (and again this year)
he was too soft to play for burke and I didn’t disagree
how in the world is this guy a +13 in Atl and -13 in TOR
$4M – not at his age and with his injury history
The myth we should be talking about is that one’s performance can be carried over from team to team…different circumstances, different environment, etc.
The Leafs would do well to take players whom embrace the pressure and not shy away from it. When I see comments that allude to a player being able to put up better numbers when the pressure is off – I am glad to see them go – they will not be any use to the Leafs when they are fighting for and in the playoffs.
December 6th, 2009 at 10:29 am
@honest hockey
2009 Preseason Stats
Mitchell 6 2-4=6
Stajan 5 1-4=5
Bozak 6 1-4=5
Never mind that Stajan has 19 point’s in 27 NHL regular season games and Bozak has 10 point’s in 17 AHL regular season games.
I have never said I don’t want a change. I have never said Stajan is a 1st line centre. I will say it could be worse we could be paying Gomez almost 7.5 million to be our #1 centre. LOL.
December 6th, 2009 at 10:35 am
@moimoi28
As always stats tell such a small part of the overall story. Bozak absolutely outplayed both defensively while still contributing offensively and his overall creativity gave lots of open ice to his linemates. Can I over look the shorthanded beauty he scored on NHL defensemen and the defesive play he made with his effort while his net was open? Do I need to post the links?
I don’t give a shit about Gomez. I don’t want him on this team either. Is that the justification for Stajan? His contract? Yeah don’t want better just cheap. The solution of champions.
December 6th, 2009 at 10:38 am
@moimoi28
Bozak was not on the ice for an even strength goal against until the final game of the preseason, and he looked good on the penalty kill as well. He was probably our best overall centre in camp, but got caught in the numbers game – you could fit 3 centres (Mitchell, Stajan and Primeau) under the cap for Bozak’s cap hit. If Bozak’s cap hit was the same as Stajan’s, we wouldn’t be having these Stajan debates at this point as he would be elsewhere. Or, more likely, we’d have people saying that we gave away yet another “future superstar” for nothing.
December 6th, 2009 at 10:56 am
@kb
I do believe he had to be out for a few more even stregth goals against as he was only a +2. I’m not saying Bozak didn’t look good at camp but he had some glaring hole’s and made a lot of mistakes. He worked hard to get back on the back check and I liked that about him. But simply he needed to go to the AHL and prove he could play at this level. He has not proven that yet. I still think he will be a good player. But not a first liner.
I know people hate Stajan and they want him out. I’m just sick of it. I’m sick of listening to the same tired argument’s by know it all’s that curse people out from behind there keyboard and can’t listen to what anyone else says(we all know who I’m talking about). I don’t want to talk Stajan anymore and I don’t want to hear that Bozak is the future of this team anymore until he prove’s something to everyone in the AHL. This has become the problem with this team. It’s the same as Montreal, everyone want’s new blood on there team. New exciting players that have different thing’s to offer and then they get rushed and it ruin’s them. Look at what Pacioretty is doing in Montreal. He looks out of place. He was given a spot on that team without ever proving anything. The same way people wanted Bozak to be our #1 centre before he had even proved anything. A decent string of 6 games in the preseason(Latendresse anyone?). Kadri was better than Bozak in the pre-season but I’m fine with him going back to the OHL for another season.
So I’m going to say it one last time I think the Leafs should trade Stajan and they should try to find another centre who can actually be a #1 centre in the NHL.
December 6th, 2009 at 11:09 am
Sure Stajan can make a 3 foot pass, but don’t put him in front of the net 2-on-nothing with Kessel 8 feet away, he’ll put the puck in his skates.
December 6th, 2009 at 11:24 am
@moimoi28
History has a ton of great AHLer’s who couldn’t make the jump. Hell we just traded one. Proving something in the AHL can sometimes mean jack shit. Bozak obviously proved something to a whole bunch of NHL GM’s before he even signed a professional contract. He looked very good in the preseason having played only 19 games in his final year at college. I believe Bozak’s pre-season was at a minimum at par with Stajan who has had 5+ years in the NHL. Shouldn’t Bozak at least be given a shot at being way better? That’s where I get really pissed off at the Stajan shit. He takes icetime away from potentially turning around this franchise. Time to move on and getr him the fuck out of here. Rushing players? This franchise does absolutely the opposite. Since the lockout teams moving forward have played their young players in the NHL and let them grow at the NHL level. Sure they lose for a couple of seasons while the kids adjust but its all for the sake of development. Look at Chicago and LA as examples. The Islanders and Avalanche have seen the light as well but not this team.
I also find it funny how I dis-agree with you yet because I have a different opinion about the player I am being the problem. Grow up.
December 6th, 2009 at 11:37 am
kb wrote:
I think he signed for 4 mil
December 6th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
@kaz
Antropov did sign for $4 million after becoming a UFA – but while he was with the Leafs it was reported by a lot of media outlets that he was looking for $5 million per. Too much money for what he brought to the table, and BB rightfully assessed that fact (and every other team in the league agreed). If you are BB and have someone who will be a UFA and is asking for upwards of $5 million (and it is near the trade deadline), you have no choice but to deal him. If you don’t, you’ve risked losing the asset for free, and you’ve just handed over the upper hand in negotiations to Antropov because he knows he has BB over a barrel – we would now have to overpay to get him to resign before he hit UFA. That is why it irritates me when people talk about “giving away Antropov for free”. Those people just look at the players name and the return, and immediately call BB an idiot for making the trade. To me, it was a necessary trade – like the Stralman, Pogge, and Tlusty trades……
December 6th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
This is all so basic. How can it not be realized that we are not going to see BB’s vision of the top six until at or near the trade deadline. Burke wasn’t ever going to let these guys go for nothing or have the likes of Toskalol, Stajan et al, languish in the AHL in the final years of their respective contracts. That is just bad asset management plain and simple. It was pretty obvious to me that those youngsters would be doing exactly what they are doing now. So people should get used to the idea of Stajan being around here until the trade deadline as well as Poni, Primeau, Mayers etc., etc. Nothing will change in that regard.
December 6th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
@kb: Did you eat fish yesterday? Cause you’re making a lot of sense today, here and on other threads.
December 6th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
@moimoi28
Kadri made more spectacular plays, but he was not anywhere near as consistent or as good defensively as Bozak. Bozak was on the ice for a couple of even strength goals in the final preseason game which knocked him back in the +/-, but that is still not my point. My point was that he was the Leafs best all round centre in the preseason, and did not even get a shot to start the year. Unlike Stralman/Tlusty/Pogge, he actually showed that he belonged, and he should have at least gotten a few games to start the season like Stalberg did – even if he gets sent down later, he’ll at least know what he has to work on to get back up.
December 6th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
@looshV
Agreed except as my good buddy luke suggested, a pig in lipstick is still a pig. Why would you think GM’s are blind? The trade deadline is used to strengthen your roster not weaken it.
December 6th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Exactly kb and to my point. Stajan takes icetime away from players who MAY make this team better!
December 6th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
@bob
Thanks! Just goes to show you that accidents happen sometimes….lol.
December 6th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
I was hoping Bozak would excel in the AHL and then BB would move one of his centers to let Bozak play. But with Bozak either ill with the H1N1 or the current injury he hasnt been able to get his game going. I think that is the only reason a Center trade has not been made.
Kadri is definitely the real deal. I hope Bozak is. Last night reminds us that the Leafs get caught up in themselves far too easily, thinking they are better than they are.
December 6th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
@honesthockey
I think Stajan will net a fairly decent return for BB at the trade deadline. I also agree that a pig in lipstick is exactly true. However, we need only look at the Moore/Antro comparison at last years trade deadline. We netted a similar return save for the conditional pick tied to Antro. My point is that a given player can net a given return based on what the needs are of an assumed trading partner. Stajan could easily net us a first rounder if Moore got us a second. We just need the right trading partner.
December 6th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
looshV wrote:
I would jump in joy if Stajan can bring us a first rounder. What team do you envision giving up their 1st for Stajan? I think that Moore/2nd pick comparison is a little skewed as Moore (at the time of the trade) was a desirable commodity for a playoff run while the Stajans are a dime a dozen.
December 6th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
I think any assessments of Stajans trade value by honesthockey are skewed by his blind hatred of the guy. Anyone elses opinion on this is likely okay.
I like the idea of not trading Stajan for a draft pick but rather trading him for someone who has already been drafted in the 1st or 2nd round. Speeds up development a year and we have bit more knowledge of the player.
December 6th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
@looshv
A first-tounder? Geez, too bad Milbury is out of the biz. Maybe give Gainey a buzz and see what he’s up to?
@HH
Exactly. I’m not a Stajan hater per se – I’ve just completely run out of patience with someone who has obvious flaws in his game (and has had for years), yet he refuses to address them. Shows a lack of the proper commitment needed to succeed. If he would have shown any improvement in his skating, positioning, decision-making, upper body strength, and game-to-game compete level, I would be more inclined to give him a break. Problem is, all of those attributes have not improved one iota since he broke into the league – yet he is still handed the top-line centre role on this team.
December 6th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
@peterbleafs
Is wanting better players blind hatred? I have stated on these and many other sites that if this was Stajan’s 2nd or even 3rd season and this team looked to be moving forward with him in the lineup I won’t ever comment.
If Stajan got more than a 5th I would jump for joy and cry rape. If you asked Buffalo to make the same trade today for Moore they would run. Add that to the fact that Moore then had to wait it out to sign a one year at $1.1 believe me no GM will make that mistake. Moore got his points the same way Stajan does through opportunity. Opportunity that would not be awarded on a playoff bound team.
December 6th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Well you guys Stajan is the best center of the lot. Grabovski is no hell either. We all recognize we have no top two centers on this team at all, that is our glaring weakness now and one I am sure BB is hoping is dealt with via Bozak and Kadri. Every other position we are in good shape with. Kulemin will be a Datsyuk type 2nd liner in a few years if we are patient. Stalberg and Kessel are also there. Stajan and Grabovski are both on the outs, its now a game of just choosing when is all.
@hh..there you go again…better than a 5th!! Get real, he will get a 2nd or a prospect easily. He is again on pace for 55pts. You constantly validate your blindspot.
December 6th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
@peterbleafs
So why wait? Why have players in your lineup that aren’t going to help you today or tomorrow? It has been suggested that Stajan has been shopped including last year at the deadline yet he’s still here. Why should we be the team to keep a player no one else wants?
Bozak is injured. So what? Next. Put Kessel in the middle and bring in Stalberg. Or move Hanson in the middle. Put the young guys in the lineup and let them learn the NHL game in the NHL. Why have another throw away season.
December 6th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
@hh
Im impatient too believe me! lol. But this season we are fucked, so I guess I am just waiting it out till the trade deadline. I watch more Knights games, look at Marlies line scores and hope for the development of our young guys. we all know Stajan, Stempniak and some others are gone by next year.
December 6th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Pray! Pray big time.
It isn’t even patience. I’d have patience with this team if it had the young guys in there but this………
December 6th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
@Wook
Stajan and Moore had very comparable statistical years in 2008-2009. Similar faceoff percentage, similar +/-, Stajan had better shooting percentage. One big difference is that Stajan has been improving every year with consistency. Moore had and has had his one moment in the sun and that is it. The numbers don’t lie. Both players being in the same contractual status as far as time is concerned. Injuries to players on teams in playoff races or teams that feel their time is now or never will be more than willing to part with a first IF the partner is right.
PS: Moore is 29, Stajan is 25…..big difference.
December 6th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Again looshV
Opportunity!!! Moore’s first and only shot at any offensive opportunity he succeeded somewhat. And he didn’t do it with the teams top players. He did it with Blake. Huge difference.
December 6th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
honesthockey wrote:
if fans like yourself have such a hardon for the young Leafs prospects, instead of bitching to see them up in the NHL were they are clearly not ready to be, why not go watch the Marlies if you really need to see them play? If you live in Toronto, you have no excuse and if you don’t go watch the Marlies then you should end the bitching about how such and such should be playing with the Leafs.
December 6th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
@honesthockey
I hate to rain on your parade but Jason Blake was our TOP player last year, even after Dom Moore was gone. Take a look at his monthly stats and you will see he continued his pace even in Moore’s absence.
December 6th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
@looshV
Blake produced 39 of his 63 points with Moore on the ice. The next closest player was Stempniak with Blake producing 17. In the 63 games that Moore was on the team Blake produced 50 points or at a .794 pace. In the 19 remaining games he produced at a .684 pace. I would suggest further studt=y would show his production even higher with Moore on the ice. Moore and Blake worked. BTW with Blake the season previous, Stajan 33 points and a minus 11.
Antropov and Ponikarovsky had played the previous 2 seasons with Sundin forming the top line. Why would they be considered less than line 1 except for the fact that they got saddled with Stajan.
December 6th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
@BlueBuds
Sorry if the scope of this conversation went way over your head.
December 6th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Yes Blake’s production was higher by a .11 points per game…..1.1 points every ten games. Over 19 games that’s 2 extra points. That’s not a big difference. And your reference to Stajan’s stats of the year prior lend to the proof that he has only improved every year despite his ever changing line mates. A teams first line is really defined by how many shifts per game and average ice time per game. Blake and Moore both had more than Antro and Poni. In Dom’s case only slightly more than Antro but still more.
December 6th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
In any event although I would fully expect to get a second rounder for Stajan, i think the possibility does exist for a first from a competitive team; largely due to his age. He is still young.
December 6th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
With the young centers given time to develope with the Marlies(Bozak), and Kadri probably given a season AT MOST with the Marlies next year, Stajan is all but gone. The question for me is, do you trade him for the best pick you can get ,or, do you package him with Kaberle and get a first line forward? And how does Blake fit in? IMHO, Blake is kind of a gorilla on the Leafs back when looking forward in the rebuild/retool. RE:TOOl=JFJ.
December 6th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Blake is a huge gorilla and I have stated on many occasions that I think this is where Burke’s biggest challenge lies.
December 6th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a series of videos which tries to make something out of nothing. If anything, other than the first one, you’ve merely highlighted that Kessel has been a one man show.
The little things? Every player in the NHL can do “little things”, so let us not elevate it to first line ability.
Why don’t you show all the passes that Kessel has made, in glorious scoring position, that his linemates have missed. He would have a ton of assists already if Stajan had any finish whatsoever.
Has Stajan played okay? Of course. Does that mean we have to try to argue that he’s a good fit for Kessel in the grand scheme. Give your head a shake
December 7th, 2009 at 7:52 am
I have to admit that I’m impressed with the civility everyone is displaying in a Mat Stajan blog.
It warms the cockles of my heart.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
@ honesthockey:
Thats you reply? Figures.
December 7th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
@BlueBuds
Not much else to say when replying to someone who hasn’t read a word of what was said before he replies. Next time read.
December 7th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Perhaps I spoke too soon?
December 7th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Perhaps you shouldn’t speak at all.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
honesthockey wrote:
Grinch!
December 7th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
@BlueBuds: Your post Dec. 6, 1:33pm, was excellent advice to those of us who would like to see and support the up and coming youth, on the Marlies. I will continue go when I can.
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