The last time hockey fans saw Eric Staal, he was writhing in agony at the world hockey championship in Stockholm, gripping his right knee, the future of the Carolina Hurricanes success between his hands.
Luckily, he said, the injury, a third-degree sprain of his medial collateral ligament, looked a lot scarier than it actually was.
Sweden’s Alex Edler drew a two-game suspension for the hit that led to the injury.
Staal, the Hurricanes captain and top scorer, did not need surgery, and with a three-month expected recovery time, he says he fully plans to be ready to go when training camp rolls around in September.
“It’s slow, but steady,” he said earlier this month, taking time out of his rehab to sign autographs at Thunder Bay’s annual Easter Seals Skate with the Stars at the Fort William First Nation arena.
“I guess for me I didn’t expect it to take as long as it has, but it was a pretty significant injury. I know I’ll be back at 100 per cent when the season starts. There’s still a little bit to go, to fully get back to 100 per cent. But I’m on the way now.”
It was a disappointing end to a disappointing season that started with so much promise.
The Hurricanes were the talk of the NHL offseason after a blockbuster draft-day deal landed centre Jordan Staal, Eric’s talented younger brother, from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Carolina started strong, winning eight of 13 games when the lockout finally ended in January, but tailed off and wound up in unlucky 13th place in the Eastern Conference, 13 points out of a playoff spot.
It wasn’t exactly how the eldest of the hockey-playing Staal siblings envisioned the 2012-13 season playing out.
Not one to blame injuries, Staal admitted it would have been hard for any team to overcome the loss of goaltender Cam Ward, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner in the Hurricanes 2006 Stanley Cup win.
“I think as a group we had a good start. We were comfortable and everyone was confident with where they were in the line-up.
“After we got through half the games we had some injuries to key guys, Cam obviously one of them and a few guys on the back end. Our confidence began to waver a little bit and we weren’t able to get some of the stops we needed,” Staal said.
“It just kind of snowballed. I think with a healthy Cam Ward we would have been able to be in the playoffs and from there you never know, as we’ve seen the last few years. We’ll be ready next year and be excited for a full 82 games.”
Staal finished with 18 goals and 35 assists, playing all 48 games for Carolina, the sixth highest total in the league, just seven points behind Art Ross Trophy winner Martin St. Louis.
That makes him logical candidate – if not a lock – to be named to Canada’s 2014 Olympic team and a chance for back-to-back gold medals.
It’s an invitation he’d accept in a heartbeat, he said, despite what happened in Sweden this past spring.
“I think the chance to defend would be phenomenal,” the 28-year-old said. “I feel like I’m at a part of my career and an age where I can contribute to that team and be an important piece. My goal is to have a good start to the season and to be there.
“But obviously we have a ton of talent and a ton of options here in Canada and you need to make sure you’re performing at the level you need to be to be on that team. I’m expecting myself to do that this year and give myself that opportunity to defend the gold medal.”
With brothers Jordan and Marc in the mix for Olympic berths, along with Chicago’s Patrick Sharp, there could be a decided Thunder Bay feel in Russia.
It’s fun to think about, Staal said.
“That would be pretty special, not only for us, but for a lot of people from Thunder Bay.”
Staal has 268 goals and 359 assists for 627 points in 690 NHL games.
