Marc Staal reflects on 'unbelievable experience' of playing with brother

THUNDER BAY – For the past several seasons, Marc Staal has been a bit of a lone wolf in his family.

Siblings Eric, Jordan and Jared were neatly packaged together in the Carolina Hurricanes family, a merry band of brothers trying to lead the franchise back to its glory days of 2006.

But when it became apparent an overhaul was in the works, the Hurricanes decided to part ways with Eric, their longtime captain, before he hit the free-agent market on July 1.

He was dealt to the New York Rangers, a rental player designed to help the Broadway Blueshirts travel deep into the NHL post-season.

It also meant he’d be joining Marc, the second-oldest of the hockey-playing Staals, in Manhattan.

The strategy came up a little short, the Rangers dropping out of the playoffs at the hand of the eventual champion Pittsburgh Penguins just one round into their journey, but it was a pretty cool experience finally getting to play with his only older brother.

“It was a great experience. You don’t know if you’re going to have the opportunity playing in the NHL. For us to get to suit up together was a pretty unbelievable experience,” said Marc Staal earlier this month.

“Obviously it didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but we made some great memories we’ll definitely never forget.”
The partnership was short-lived.

On July 1, shortly after the free-agent signing period opened, Eric Staal signed  a three-year, $10.5-million deal to play for the Minnesota Wild, a team in the NHL’s Western Conference and a chance for him to rejuvenate a career that appeared to take a step or two backward last season.

That’s hockey, Marc said.

“Obviously we would have liked to have kept him, but the business is what it is and I think he’s happy where he signed in Minnesota. It’s a great opportunity on a good team and it’s exciting for him, for sure,” Marc said.

Now 29, the Rangers blue-liner is coming off a third straight steady, if not unspectacular, season in New York.

He appears to have put the injury woes of 2011-12 and 2012-13 in his distant past, missing just seven games the past two seasons combined.

A steady, mostly stay-at-home defender, Marc Staal put up two goals and 13 assists in 77 games for the Rangers in 2015-16, adding two assists in five playoff contests.

Still, it wasn’t up to his rigorous standards.

“I’ve had better years and I think having a good healthy summer where I can train and get ready for the season is something I’m enjoying and looking forward to the start of the new season and having a better year.”

While the first-round loss was a tough pill to swallow, he said, the offseason is time to regroup and get ready to do it again in September.

The only Staal brother never to be traded in his NHL career, Marc likes the Rangers chances, despite a roster that’s one year older.

“I still like our group. We’ve got some good young players coming in (Brady) Skjei and (Pavel) Buchnevich. I think we have a very bright optimistic year coming up and I think we’re excited to play more positions and play at a high level again.”