Get to know Sabres forward Eric Staal

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.