Jay Bouwmeester is somebody that I consider extremely similar to Marc Staal, not only in size but in playing style, age, and time brought along.

JayBo was picked 3rd overall in the 2002 entry draft and played a FULL 82 games that season recording 4 goals, 12 assists, and 14 penalty minutes. He was 18 in his first training camp, and turned 19 on Sep 27, 2002.

After turning 20, he plaed in 61 games for the Panthers recording 2 goals and 18 assists, 30 penalty minutes and then subsequently was sent down to the San Antonio Rampage.

During the lockout season, he played for Minor-League teams such as the Rampage and the Chicago wolves, in total, playing 82 games recording 10 goals and 16 assists with 62 penalty minutes.

Both of these players had 4 years of Junior experience coming into their NHL careers and both of them played 80+ games their first year jumping from Junior hockey to NHL hockey. But JBo was able to play in the A when the lockout happened, obviously opening doors and building his confidence.

Marc Staal debuted for the rangers as a bright-eyed 20 year old in 2007, and recorded 2 goals, 8 assists, 10 points with 42pims. In his second year, 08-09, he recorded 3 goals with 12 assists and 64 pims.

As we stand, right now, Marc Staal has 2 goals 6 assists and 12 pims in 23 games. He is even in the +/- after playing with another young guy all season long on a top defensive pairing. He is on pace for 7 goals and 21 assists this years, quietly.

My point is just this…these guys are so friggin young. How much better do you think a guy who has (potentially) the ability to record 7g21a on the blueline at 22 years old, in a position that is considered to be brought along at about 23, 24 or even 25 in Gilroy’s case.

This guy WILL be a good player because he IS a good player. People make mistakes especially young defenseman and it can’t be on their shoulders to carry an entire team. If we dropped Rozsival for somebody that could guide these young guys for real, even somebody like Sean O’Donnell, it’s be fantastic.

Face facts, good things come to those who wait. Marc Staal is no less offensive than anyone may or may not think. He’s still a piece of clay waiting for some good molding from a good instructor. He’ll find his way, and even if all of you scream trade him because of he last name on his back I say nay.

That said, I think it would be extremely foolish to let him go anytime soon unless the return was monumental. He might not be the #1 he was expected to be…but he’s a child still and obviously has shown that there is something there.

I still contend that MDZ and Gilroy taking the “spotlight” from him has not helped him, for whatever reason.

nice name handsome

New post.

Like I said, as long as both of them stayin within themselves, they’ll be pretty solid defensive d-men, but they aren’t going to be a top notch shut down pair.

I’ve never been to an away Ranger game, should be fun. Although im a HUGE lightning fan, so if the Rangers start to get squatted on then I’ll just join the crowd’s raucous. haha.

He’s not going to be Chara nor is he going to be Mike Green, but he showed the smarts the past two years to play well enough in his own end and enough support going the other way. With the likes of MDZ and Gilroy and maybe at some point Bobby Sangs, there should be no need for Staal to be a PP QB or even the guy that jump starts the transition game.