RALEIGH, N.C. – Marc Staal is hunkering down in Connecticut as he waits out the COVID-19 outbreak.
The New York Ranger defenceman, who took part in a conference video call on Thursday, along with brother Jordan, Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux and Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby, saluted front-line workers in New York City hospitals, where 17,856 positive coronavirus cases have been diagnosed.
“(There’s) definitely some concern, some thoughts with all our health-care professionals that are doing the job right now. It’s got to be hard,” said the elder Staal, who had two goals and 11 points in 52 games before the NHL season came to an abrupt end earlier this month due to the pandemic’s spread.
With much of the U.S. on lockdown, as state and local governments do their best to try to stem the spread of the disease, which has killed 23,581 people around the world, infecting more than half-a-million, Staal said he’s sticking close to home, awaiting word about when it’s OK for hockey to resume.
“Laying low in the house for a lot of it,” he said, “cleaning my floors a lot and doing kindergarten work with my daughter ... When the kids go to sleep, I want to sit down and not think for a while.”
Younger brother Jordan, whose team was clinging to the top wild-card spot in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, says he feels bad for the fans, many of whom are stuck at home, some out of work, with no hockey to keep them occupied.
“I’m thinking of them, just making sure everyone’s staying safe and finding a way to fight through this,” the Hurricanes captain said.
“I know the boys, they’re excited to get back on the ice at some point, hopefully sooner than later, in front of all the fans. We’ll push for a good playoff run.”
Asked about how that return to the ice might look, Marc Staal said the more games the better.
“You want to keep the integrity of what we’re doing and our team was right there ... You want to get as many games in as possible to get your true tournament,” he said, his Rangers two points back of the Columbus Blue Jackets, the second wild-card team, when the season shut down.
It wasn’t all business for the four players, who were asked what they missed most about the other three.
Crosby, who won a Cup with Jordan Staal in Pittsburgh in 2009, said his former teammate’s size was the thing he missed least.
“Just having to contain that big body and fight him off all the time, he’s just everywhere.”
Marc Staal, who said he’d choose Jared Staal as his isolation brother because he can "beat him at things", agreed.
“I don’t miss pushing his 230 pounds around in the corner ... or at least trying to,” he said.
Jordan Staal, who like Crosby is passing the time watching Formula 1: Drive to Survive on Netflix, wasn’t above chirping his fellow NHLers, Giroux in particular.
“For G, if he stopped talking at the faceoff circle, he’d probably win a lot more,” he said, smiling.
He wasn't alone.
“Claude’s always chirping on the ice, don’t miss that,” Marc Staal added.
The NHL on Wednesday postponed the annual draft and there's no timeline on a return to action.
