Carolina Hurricanes Player Evaluations and Grades

Eric Staal

October 28, 2013; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Eric Staal (12) carries the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PNC Center. The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Staal has had a history of taking a while to heat up, but this has turned into an issue for the Carolina Hurricanes. He has put up 8 points (3 goals, 5 assists) in 12 games, but he is a minus 8 and he just hasn’t been the same Eric Staal that we saw last year.

There can be a lot of reasons for this. He could still be not right with his injured knee, he could just be off to a slow start, or maybe he just isn’t trying hard enough.

I think it is just that he is off to a slow start, but that is not a defense of Eric Staal. He needs to play like the star he is, and he needs to play like he is the captain of the Carolina Hurricanes, which he is.

Whatever it is, Eric needs to figure it out sooner rather than later for the Hurricanes to be successful. As we have seen time and time again, as Eric Staal goes, the Carolina Hurricanes go.

8 points in 12 games isn’t bad, but Eric Staal is being paid over 8 million dollars, he needs to play like a star.

Grade : B-