[Isikiz]

Stajan has been a contentious point of discussion for Flames fans ever since we acquired him. There's been a lot to like about his game this year. It feels like he's been extremely consistent and competing extra hard, and it definitely shows. Although his contract is a little hefty, Matt Stajan definitely has a role on this team - and he's been playing it extremely well.

Darren Haynes just wrote an article about Stajan's monster defensive shift yesterday (with 22.8 seconds left).

Exactly eleven seconds earlier in a battle of 32-year-olds with over 1,600 combined NHL games, Matt Stajan had cleanly beaten Joe Pavelski on a draw at that very same spot on the ice.

But could he out-duel the Sharks captain once again?

As they untangle, Stajan whacks Pavelski in the back of the head with his stick, Pavelski gives a shot right back, Stajan counters with a right jab.

Exhaustion is setting in and and the puck hasn't touched the ice yet.

"He adds to our culture," says head coach Glen Gulutzan. "He's one of our leaders in that locker room. I knew that coming in. and I've really been happy with his play and he's been an inspired player right now. He's done a lot of good things for us."

Giordano said the players apprenticing under him could learn a lot just by observing.


"Our young guys can take a lot from his positioning out there. If you watch him play, especially deep in the D zone, he's never in a rush and that's the way to play center in the D zone and he always seems to find those right spots."

Well, there is one number that stands out for Stajan. It is the number one, as in only one even-strength goal has been scored against him this season. That's mighty impressive. That's in a dozen games and having played the equivalent ice time of over two full games at even-strength -- 122:06 to be exact.

If you are one to scoff at a goal-based metric like plus-minus, no problem, shot-based advanced stats tell a similar story. In SAT% Close (aka Corsi Close, aka the ratio of attempted shots for versus attempted shots against while that player is on the ice and the game is within a goal), his 57.34 is second among Flames regulars behind only Micheal Ferland (57.86). Plus it should be noted that over 75 percent of Stajan's zone starts (aka when he's on the ice for a face-off) have come in the defensive zone, which naturally adds a layer of difficulty.