Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal has been placed on the NHL’s COVID 19 protocol list and will not play against the Detroit Red Wings later tonight. While wishing nothing but the best of health for the Thunder Bay, Ontario native, we can only hope this is because of contract tracing and not because of a positive test or of symptoms.
Jordan Staal was the recipient of a bad hit from Detroit’s Sam Gagner which did see another Cane in Dougie Hamilton drop the gloves with the Red Wing, and the time out of the lineup may allow him to recover from both simultaneously. Of course, we all wish nothing but the best for the captain.
Staal’s length of absence is currently undetermined. All that has been made public by the league, who are handling all matters regarding players testing positive for the Coronavirus, is that he will not be able to play in the Carolina Hurricanes second game of the season which is also at Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit.
Jordan Staal has recorded 531 games as a Carolina Hurricanes across 9 seasons with the organization. In that time, he has tallied 105 goals, and 184 assists for 289 points. While not world-beating numbers, this is going to be a sore miss from the line-up. This does not account for what he renowned for doing so well either.
His penalty killing ability and just all-around defensive stability accompanied by his voice in the locker room are all going to be contributing factors as to why his absence is so excruciating. It’s not easy to lose a leader. Losing your captain is worse. This also comes at maybe the worst possible time as it comes after the retirement of former captain Justin Williams, who at other points may have filled the void left by Staal.
Jordan Staal has been added to the NHL's COVID-19 Protocol list.
— Michael Smith (@MichaelSmithNC) January 15, 2021
This list includes players unavailable due to any of the following factors: 1) unconfirmed positive test, 2) isolation due to symptoms, 3) contact tracing, 4) confirmed case of COVID-19 or 5) quarantine for travel
While Staal will be missed, it presents opportunities to players that may not usually get them. We could very well see Vincent Trocheck slide up into that 2nd line center spot between Andrei Svechnikov and Martin Necas which just sounds like fun for the Canes. It will hurt the Canes lower down the depth chart, but for now, it’s a workable situation.
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It should also allow Morgan Geekie to draw into his 3rd NHL regular-season game. Seeing as he has not been kept off the score sheet so far in his NHL career, it’s an exciting proposition with the young Strathclair, Manitoba native. He has tallied 4 points in 2 games so far. Albeit a short career, he already shows a lot of promise and it seems that he will only get better with time.
I want to again wish nothing but the best to Jordan Staal with his health. A leader, a great person, and a vital part of the Carolina Hurricanes organization over the past decade, he really hasn’t stepped out of line since being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the summer of 2012. A good role model on and off the ice for a lot of youngsters. We all wish you nothing but the best Jordan.