Quote:
Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus
Unfortunately 15 games doesn't make for a successful season in most aspects of the NHL game that requires 82 games to be played at a high level.
Most of the playoff teams around the league now leverage players on the younger side of the spectrum as a 4th line centers instead of employing players merely playing out there careers. Stajan doesn't do anything better than younger players in the Flames organization could do if they were given the opportunity. The only reason he's still here is because of his cap hit.
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Stajan was, until last year, the best Flame in the faceoff dot. Last year he was second to Monahan by a small amount. Only those two guys were above 50%.
He's also an expert in making the most of the skill-set he has, to accept the role the team gives him and to work hard to accomplish that. He's not big, but he plays as physical as any centre on the team, and more than anyone who's not a Hathaway or Glass type. There's something to be said for that. He also centred a way better fourth line last year when he wasn't given Bollig on the wing.
I agree that if his legs aren't up to the C position, he'd still make a better winger for Jankowski than almost any other guy available for the role.