PensBurgh says that the Penguins’ advantage has always been down the middle. That edge is gone now and it’s a surprise that Jordan Staal, the games played stalwart, was the one to go down:
Pittsburgh Reaction: Losing Staal “A Huge Blow”
Jordan Staal is a 3rd line center, but not many 3rd line centers play 19-20 minutes a night and end up as a team’s third highest scoring forward. Throw in a deserved Selke nomination as a dominant defensive positionally on the PK and it only increases his value. On top of all of that, there’s durability. Staal’s played 383 of a possible 384 games since he turned pro in October 2006. Aside from Robert Downey Jr. you’d be hard-pressed to find a better modern day Iron Man.
See More:
