Matt Freakin Stajan!

[Racki]

By all accounts Stajan is one the most well liked guys in the dressing room as well...

[FlameZilla]

So happy to see Stajan getting some CP love. He really deserves this improvement on the ice, and the more confidence he gets the better he plays. Looks good with Iggy & Tanguay (finally)!

I'd love to see these lines rolled until Backlund is back, once Cervenka is fully fit & accustomed to the defensive side of the game.

Tanguay Stajan Iginla
Sven Cervenka Hudler
Glenny Cammy Stempniak
Comeau Begin Jackman

[SuperMatt18]

Stajan has really been a catalyst for this team this season...it seems what ever line he is placed on becomes our best line.

Really shows that in order to unlock the offensive potential of all our wingers we could really use another defensively responsible, two-way center.

[troutman]

Matt Staaa-jan

[Stay Golden]

I'm surprised to say it but Stajan has been one of the more consistent players for giving quality shifts to the team.

[Red Menace]

I think it was pretty much a given that Stajan would be candidate #1 for a potential buyout in the off season, but I'd say he's played his way out of that and the Flames will welcome him back next season.
Of course lots can still happen in the mean time, but nice to see the Flames getting some value out of that terrible trade.

[MyFlamesFirst]

The best thing I have noticed about Stajan this year is how we plays on both ends of the rink. He gives 100 percent each and every shift. He definitely backchecks much harder than both Iggy and Tanguay, and in my opinion has actually prevented numerous scoring chances for the other team. He is looking like a legitimate NHL centerman. Always liked Stajan because of his attitude, nice to see Hartley reward him properly.

[RT14]

Agree with sentiment in this thread and thrilled to be able to do so. Stajan has looked very good this season and so impressive that he's done it at both ends of the ice and virtually with every winger he's been put with.

Keep it up Staj!

[t0rrent98]

I guess htat off season work out at the Gary Robert's Training Camp is coming in handy.

[Vinny01]

definitely a guy that seized the opportunity a new coach presented. He was buried in Brent's doghouse and suffered from confidence issues and outside of a nice run late last year he struggled.

He is playing great right now and if he keeps it up the Flames will really only be lacking a #1C up the middle as Stajan and Backlund can make up a decent 2-3 combo.

[CsInMyBlood]

Stajan has looked reborn under the new coaching staff, great to see he has gained some trust and confidence because of it.

However I STILL have a problem with his bitching and complaining during faceoffs. It has been like this since his first games in a Flames jersey. He starts so many periods still yapping at the linesmen about faceoffs that happened the period before.

You can tell by the third period the linesmen have had enough of his constant whining and throw him out almost instantly for anything. I don't see how the coaching staff, or his teammates haven't told him to just STFU.

Other than that and his constant falling to the ice without anyone around (happens about 3-5 times a game) I'm shocked that he has kept his level of play this high all season.

Good job Matt, keep up the good work.

[EVERLAST]

^^^^^agree with most of the above except the refs were being complete VD riddin pricks about dropping the F'IN puck...what happened to the old hurry up faceoffs ???

Oh , well ....Stajan is reborn and I for one am damn excited to see it ....havent really had a guy since Yelle that could win draws consistently and its about time someone could start winning draws.

[Machiavelli]

Good article:

“I love Matty,” the Calgary Flames head coach was saying Monday morning as the players packed up for the charter flight to Minnesota. “I think he’s a great student of the game. He’s a great hard-worker. And it seems that he wants more.

“I have absolutely no problem with this. I’m very happy with him.”

“He’s been unbelievable,” Hartley gushed. “He’s been on pucks. He’s forechecking. He’s winning big faceoffs. He’s a great penalty-killer.

“Five-on-five, I use him against the top forwards of the other team.”

“Obviously, confidence is a big thing,” Stajan said, pointing out the very thing he has lacked in years past. “I know it’s on the player to have confidence. But when a coach shows confidence in you the way this coaching staff has early this year, I think it speaks volumes to any player.”

“It’s no secret my first couple of years here didn’t go the way I wanted them to,” Stajan said. “You can point to a number of reasons why that was, but that’s behind us.

“We move forward...I came in here with an open mind and to work hard and to embrace any role that I’d be given.”

[Da_Chief]

If he keeps playing like this he'll have a future in Calgary. Solid third liner in the future.

[Weiser Wonder]

He's been the Flames best player. Great play all over the ice. His play down the middle is the main reason this team is 7-7 and not 5-9.

The last two games have been the best I've seen a center play in Calgary in years. The fact that the Flames even have a mediocre record with only one center doing the heavy lifting gives an indication of how good he's been.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Weiser Wonder

He's been the Flames best player. Great play all over the ice. His play down the middle is the main reason this team is 7-7 and not 5-9.

The last two games have been the best I've seen a center play in Calgary in years. The fact that the Flames even have a mediocre record with only one center doing the heavy lifting gives an indication of how good he's been.

Really, more then Langkow?

[krispykream]

stajan has improved since he first came here and for the price it was horrible but he's been trying and has been good this year so far hopefully he keeps it up and it pays off for everyone

[HELPNEEDED]

lol at the folks who believe he's still a 3rd liner, he's got allt he skill to dominate teh 2nd

[CaptainCrunch]

Its sad because I personally like Brent Sutter, but it really looks like he miss handled a lot of players on this team, Bouw and Stajan would be a starting point.

Its amazing what confidence and a proper game plan for a player can do for their confidence.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Its sad because I personally like Brent Sutter, but it really looks like he miss handled a lot of players on this team, Bouw and Stajan would be a starting point.

Its amazing what confidence and a proper game plan for a player can do for their confidence.

I know I used to bang this drum incessantly when he was coaching, but Stajan just isn't a 4th line center. His only opportunities to move up the depth chart were due to injuries, and even then, he delivered.

Backlund looked to have much more confidence before he went down. Stempniak is somewhat close to a ppg and Brodie is finally emerging as a top 4 d-man. Butler is where he belongs on the 3rd pairing as well.