Get to know Sabres forward Eric Staal
Staal #Staal
![](https://squirge.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/20849.png)
The Buffalo Sabres shook up their forward group Wednesday with the acquisition of Eric Staal from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Marcus Johansson.
Staal, 35, appeared in 66 regular-season games with the Wild in 2019-20, tallying 19 goals and 28 assists for 47 points and earning his sixth All-Star Game appearance. He added five points (1+4) in four playoff contests.
Here are a few things to know about the Sabres’ latest addition.
Depth and experience down the middle
Staal adds a veteran presence to Buffalo’s depth at center, where he joins a group headlined by Jack Eichel that could also include a pair of recent first-round picks in Casey Mittelstadt and/or Dylan Cozens.
Staal centered Minnesota’s top line alongside right wing Kevin Fiala and a rotating cast of left wingers during the team’s play-in series against Vancouver. Minnesota held a 52.53 percent share of shot attempts with him on the ice at 5-on-5, according to Natural Stat Trick.
His wealth of experience could also benefit the team’s young centermen. Here are Staal’s ranks among active players:
Goals – 5th (436)Assists – 11th (585)Points – 7th (1,021)Games played – T-5th (1,240)
Playoff experience
Sabres fans remember Staal as a 21-year-old with the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2006 playoffs, when he tallied 28 points in 25 games – including five in the Eastern Conference Final against Buffalo – en route to a Stanley Cup championship. Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams was a veteran on that team.
Staal has played a total of 62 playoff games during his career, tallying 51 points (21+30). He made the playoffs in three of past four seasons with Minnesota.
Even-strength offense
Staal averaged 2.0 points per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 last season. That number would have led the Sabres, as would his primary assists (0.83) per 60 minutes at 5-on-5. His goals per 60 (0.9) would rank third.
In fact, 81 of Staal’s 111 goals since 2016-17 have come at even strength, tied for 21st in the NHL during that span.
On the power play
Staal was counted on as a presence on the Wild power play, too. He amassed 177:57 with the extra man last season, second to Zach Parise among Wild forwards. He ranked fourth on the team with 14 power-play points.