What To Do With Stajan?

[thymebalm]

I'm interested to hear people's thoughts on a somewhat sensitive topic.

This probably isn't very surprising to anyone considering the tragedy he went through off the ice last year, but Stajan is mired in the worst season of his career.

And it's not just luck. It's not tough assignments. It's a mental state.

Things that pop out:

-Most minor penalties on the team
-Playing less than 10 minutes a night
-worst offensive output of his career
-Not blocking shots
-Least shots per game on team
-Least missed shots too

Stajan is still having a good year in the dot, and he's been employed at times on the PK, but the truth is, he looks lost and uninterested out there. Down the middle we've got Backlund, Monahan, Colborne, Jooris and Granlund aside from Stajan, and all are able to contribute at a much higher and consistent level than Matt.

I don't think Stajan is a bad player, but he's clearly struggling with personal issues, and I think it might be time to sit him or to provide him with some time away from the rink to get his life back together.

Obviously nobody knows what's best for Stajan but Stajan, however, I'm curious to see how other people have viewed him this year and what they think a solution might be to help him get his game back to form.

He has 3+ years left on his contract, and I don't think trading him is an option. So he's our Matt and we have to help him, what do you do?

[troutman]

I like him in the role of a 4th line player and penalty killer. Can win some faceoffs.

His reduced stats relate to his changing role and reduced ice time.

I think he is respected and thought well of in the room.

[automaton 3]

I think he looks fine. Plays with lots of jam and makes good decisions.

Tough to judge him on offensive stats given the role he is being asked to play, and given who his regular linemates are.

[heep223]

Best 4th line C in the league and if he's ok with that, I'm ok with that.

[Tacopuck]

I think he was very aware of what his role would be when he signed that 3 year extension.
While I'm sure he rather be playing 1st line minutes he knows its his job to play the minutes that BH asks of him.

Reality is he is a veteran insurance player. Will play on 4th line, but can be used throughout the line up in game if BH sees a fit.

[GioforPM]

You leave him in, because he's playing well in his role. He doesn't look uninterested. He's improved 4th line defensive play greatly. Granlund can't do that, especially with his poor faceoff ability, and neither could Jooris when they put him in that role briefly (Jooris is a better winger IMO). His "most minor penalties" is not a big number.

Take last night - he forechecked very effectively, created a few chances, was really good at exiting the zone, and the penalty against him was a result of effort, not laziness.

Sure he has poor offensive numbers. He plays 4th line minutes with 4th line wingers, no power play, has to rest after PKs, and doesn't get offensive zone starts. He came off a significant injury. No one really cares about his offence. That's not what his role is now.

I don't get how you figure he's struggling mentally. No one has even hinted at that, so you can diagnose this from the TV? I don't see it. His interviews don't show it.

[automaton 3]

Just looked it up, he has a whopping 26 penalty minutes.

[Poe969]

Win the cup and make him the GM in a couple of years.

[Buzzard]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

I'm interested to hear people's thoughts on a somewhat sensitive topic.

This probably isn't very surprising to anyone considering the tragedy he went through off the ice last year, but Stajan is mired in the worst season of his career.

And it's not just luck. It's not tough assignments. It's a mental state.

Things that pop out:

-Most minor penalties on the team
-Playing less than 10 minutes a night
-worst offensive output of his career
-Not blocking shots
-Least shots per game on team
-Least missed shots too

Stajan is still having a good year in the dot, and he's been employed at times on the PK, but the truth is, he looks lost and uninterested out there. Down the middle we've got Backlund, Monahan, Colborne, Jooris and Granlund aside from Stajan, and all are able to contribute at a much higher and consistent level than Matt.

I don't think Stajan is a bad player, but he's clearly struggling with personal issues, and I think it might be time to sit him or to provide him with some time away from the rink to get his life back together.

Obviously nobody knows what's best for Stajan but Stajan, however, I'm curious to see how other people have viewed him this year and what they think a solution might be to help him get his game back to form.

He has 3+ years left on his contract, and I don't think trading him is an option. So he's our Matt and we have to help him, what do you do?

Far from clear...and not a fair comment at all in my opinion.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Stay the course.

He's a professional. He's having a poor season, but he's still doing a better job as 4C than anyone below him in the depth chart would be able to do.

That 4C spot is his until either someone takes it from him, or until he raises his game back to where it could/should be and takes the 3C from someone else.

But I don't think there's anything to be done.

Let the man play hockey.

[btimbit]

I don't have any issues with him at all this year

[thymebalm]

I approach this topic with kid gloves, and even still I flack for it. I see him struggle. He doesn't shoot the puck, he doesn't block the puck. He has 13 minors so far, sure it doesn't sound like a ton, but for our team and the amount of ice he gets, he's more penalized than Bollig.

I think it's crazy to suggest he's the best fourth line center in the league, you'll need to back that up with a comparison or two.

I like Stajan, especially when he's on his game, but if what I'm seeing is all he has to offer, we've got better players waiting in the wings.

For all the mud-slinging that Byron gets, you'd think Stajan would be held to the same standards, but I guess not.

If he doesn't look loke he's struggling, he looks like he's half the player he used to be and requires sheltering he never needed before.

Nobody seeing what I'm seeing? On the ice or the scoresheet? I'm surprised.

[Imported_Aussie]

Part of why this rebuild has progressed well is that the young players coming up have had to earn their places in the lineup and their minutes. How does this happen? Keeping versatile veterans on the roster.
Stajan can move up as needed, but if all he does is play 4th line centre and kill penalties, maybe getting a few more minutes late in games sheltering a lead/taking defensive zone draws, then he has a lot of value. With Monahan developing very nicely and Backlund playing well, this means that when Bennett breaks into the team, he can be brought on with favourable matchups as he adapts to the NHL.
Guys like Colborne, Jooris and Granlund can play wing, and function perfectly for now as placeholders for that centre spot that Bennett will one day lay claim to.
He is a guy who is well liked by the team perhaps most of all, is happy to play the role he is given

[Tyler]

I say keep him for the rest of the year then cut him. Not enough room on this team after this season for him.

[RoughRiderRowdy]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

I'm interested to hear people's thoughts on a somewhat sensitive topic.

This probably isn't very surprising to anyone considering the tragedy he went through off the ice last year, but Stajan is mired in the worst season of his career.

And it's not just luck. It's not tough assignments. It's a mental state.

Things that pop out:

-Most minor penalties on the team
-Playing less than 10 minutes a night
-worst offensive output of his career
-Not blocking shots
-Least shots per game on team
-Least missed shots too

Stajan is still having a good year in the dot, and he's been employed at times on the PK, but the truth is, he looks lost and uninterested out there. Down the middle we've got Backlund, Monahan, Colborne, Jooris and Granlund aside from Stajan, and all are able to contribute at a much higher and consistent level than Matt.

I don't think Stajan is a bad player, but he's clearly struggling with personal issues, and I think it might be time to sit him or to provide him with some time away from the rink to get his life back together.

Obviously nobody knows what's best for Stajan but Stajan, however, I'm curious to see how other people have viewed him this year and what they think a solution might be to help him get his game back to form.

He has 3+ years left on his contract, and I don't think trading him is an option. So he's our Matt and we have to help him, what do you do?

Nothing personal, cause i like the guy personally, but my views have not changed on Stajan. Released and/or traded.

[GranteedEV]

Some of the penalties Stajan has gotten hit with have been pretty weak... the one last night, the one where he dropped on the puck after a faceoff.

I think he's really been big for the team. His return from injury turned our bottom line completely around, which is what I think Hartley was looking for out of Sven just prior. Reality is that he's just not as fast a skater as Jooris/Backlund/Monahan, and Hartley isn't really punishing him for poor play. Hartley's just trying to make the best use of Matt Stajan, and he's been so professional about it.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

I think it's crazy to suggest he's the best fourth line center in the league, you'll need to back that up with a comparison or two.

Fair enough. Looking around the league it's hard to assess because I don't watch other teams grinders too often so I can't really back it up. I just feel like he's a great 4th line center. When he was hurt our 4th line was horrible. When he got back it was notably better and they actually get opportunities in the offensive zone.

I started compiling a list of 4th line centers to compare, but it was too time consuming to ascertain who was actually playing that role via depth charts and line combo/ice time tools. Seems like there's quite a bit of movement in 4th lines, position changes etc.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

I approach this topic with kid gloves, and even still I flack for it. I see him struggle. He doesn't shoot the puck, he doesn't block the puck. He has 13 minors so far, sure it doesn't sound like a ton, but for our team and the amount of ice he gets, he's more penalized than Bollig.

I think it's crazy to suggest he's the best fourth line center in the league, you'll need to back that up with a comparison or two.

I like Stajan, especially when he's on his game, but if what I'm seeing is all he has to offer, we've got better players waiting in the wings.

For all the mud-slinging that Byron gets, you'd think Stajan would be held to the same standards, but I guess not.

If he doesn't look loke he's struggling, he looks like he's half the player he used to be and requires sheltering he never needed before.

Nobody seeing what I'm seeing? On the ice or the scoresheet? I'm surprised.

Probably because some of the standout reasons you suggested aren't valid or are great reasons to be concerned. The direction of trying to infer that there's a personal and mental basis for his play is also far from fair as Buzzard says.

-Most minor penalties on the team
He's actually tied with Giordano, but sure between him and Colborne, they have the highest penalties per game.

-Playing less than 10 minutes a night
As a 4th line center.

-worst offensive output of his career
As a 4th line center.

-Not blocking shots
He has a higher shot block per 60 mins than some players like Backlund, Raymond, Byron...most of the blocks come from our defensemen so what's the point exactly?

-Least shots per game on team
Guys like Bollig, Byron and Bouma have ~50 shots versus his 18. You can probably assume that as a playmaker he's wanting to dish the puck instead. Not to mention his shooting % is 2nd highest, even if he only has 3 goals.

-Least missed shots too
What?

Certainly the Byron hate in comparison is a weird hypocrisy but that's the eyeball test for you. The guy who's generating chances and not finishing them is going to get more attention compared to if Byron didn't get any chances and just spends his shifts keeping the puck out of his net.
Stajan isn't the player he used to be but that's a natural progression of his career and the play of this team. He's moved from top 6 to the bottom line because we have younger, better players like Monahan, Backlund and Granlund/Jooris/Colborne who are better in the offensive zone. His two way play is now his main tool and the only tool that the team is asking of him. Sure it would be better if he wasn't making 3.5M but asking for a veteran 4th line center would cost anywhere from 1M to 2M depending on his pedigree. I don't think the extra million or two is a massive problem for the next couple years.

[Igottago]

Never hurts to have depth, but I tend to think the team is fine without the services of Stajan. I've never really thought he was a very good player. Seems to be a really well liked individual which is great, but at the end of the day you need to bring it on ice.

Hard to believe this guy was once thought of as possibly becoming a Daymond Langkow type centre for the team. Not even close.

With all that being said, no rush to get rid of him. He's playing a role when called upon and adds a little bit to team depth. But I think he's going to be expendable very quickly.

Not sure if he has much trade value.

[Buff]

I don't share the same concerns.

I looked up his production throughout the years and this year is very similar to 2011/12. That year, if I remember correctly, Sutter used Stajan on the 4th line, almost exclusively and there were plenty of people on CP wondering why he hated Stajan so much. This year Stajan is being used on the 4th line almost exclusively.

Stajan's most productive season in Calgary were the last two seasons under Bob Hartley. Bob used Stajan more during those seasons than he has this year. Stajan did perform at a higher ppg pace when he first arrived in Calgary but that wasn't a full season.

I don't think that being on the 4th line is a direct statement of Stajan's worth in the NHL, it is more of a statement of the depth on this team and the direction the Flames are taking. Monahan and Backlund are ahead of Stajan on the depth chart, so at best Stajan is a 3rd line forward. He is locked in on the 4th line this year because behind Monahan and Backlund we also have Colborne, Granlund and Jooris taking turns at center. We're in the stages of developing our younger players and putting those three guys on the 4th line on a regular basis isn't going to help them. Stajan is willing to play on the 4th line and seemingly without complaining so then why not put him in a role that he accepts? It helps your entire team makeup when players accept and perform their roles without complaint.

Also, the bit about Stajan taking the most penalties. Considering he has only 26 penalty minutes and the Flames are the lowest penalized team, I don't think this is an issue. 13 minor penalties is not a huge concern and nothing that is a detriment to the team.