• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Carolina Hurricanes

Jordan Staal Breaks Leg; Canes Younger Players Must Step Up

By Philip Botti September 24th, 2014

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

The start of the Carolina Hurricanes 2014-2015 preseason has already seen its first causality. Jordan Staal broke his leg in his first action of the preseason. He collided with Josh Gorges of the Sabres and left the ice immediately. There is no timetable for his return, and the team will evaluate the injury when they return to Raleigh.

Canes Will Miss Huge Minutes From Staal

Jordan Staal has been a hot topic of conversation this offseason. The veteran center was poised to play a big role in the team’s success in the upcoming season. This is Staal’s first injury as a Hurricane. The team will now have to plan around not having their second line center for what will be an extended amount of time. The Hurricanes had a quiet off-season and didn’t make any big signings that could step up in his absence. They will now have to rely on the younger players that will be battling out to replace the huge amount of minutes from Staal. This doesn’t mean the end for the Hurricanes, and if Staal does return this season, his return to the lineup could be a huge boost for the team during the season.

Who Will Step Up?

The Hurricanes have young players who can step up and take advantage of the extra minutes. Former first round pick Elias Lindholm was a player I talked about having a break out season earlier in the off-season. He can play center, and I expect him to step up and take the extra minutes the Jordan Staal injury will offer him. It will boost Lindholm into the spotlight a little more but he will be able to handle it. Riley Nash is another player that can step up and play the extra minutes to try to help make up for the missing Staal brother. Nash played well in the first preseason game of the season scoring a goal against Columbus. It is a big opportunity for him to fit himself into the top six and grow as an NHL player. Jeff Skinner can also play a little center on the second line, but I would rather see him stay on Eric Staal’s line and build on the chemistry they made last season.

(Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports)

(Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports)

 

Victor Rask

Victor Rask really showed up at the NHL Prospect Tournament in Traverse City this year. He scored a game winner in the tournament against the Rangers prospects and has been a bright spot for the Canes early this preseason/training camp. In the same game that Jordan Staal went down, Rask played 17-plus minutes and went 11-for-16 in the faceoff circle. In this terrible situation with a great player getting injured, it would be a perfect time for Rask to break out. Even if Rask doesn’t break into the top six of the lineup, he could end up being a solid depth player for the team Staal’s absence.

Conclusions

It is always terrible to see a great player like Jordan Staal to go down with a serious injury. I wish Staal a quick and successful recovery, and can’t wait to see him back on the ice. The injury doesn’t mean the end of the season for the Hurricanes. It is a perfect time for younger players to step up and sure up the depth down the middle of the lineup for the Hurricanes. Victor Rask is a prime candidate to have a break out season, and other main stays in the lineup will take advantage of the opportunity to play big minutes. It is also a perfect time for players to start to replace the leadership that Jordan Staal brings. They will need more of their veteran players to come in and add leadership on and off the ice.

  • Tags
  • Jordan Staal
  • Riley Nash
  • Victor Rask
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 18th 3:10 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers News & Rumors: Yamamoto, Kahun, Bear, Goalie News, More

Jan 18th 3:00 PM
Column

Flyers Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: Konecny, Hart, Voracek & More

Jan 18th 2:50 PM
Ottawa Senators

From the Senators’ Chambers: White Will Get His Chances

Jan 18th 2:40 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Weekly: Goalie Controversy, Injuries, Waivers and More

Jan 18th 2:30 PM
Column

Oilers Weekly: Inconsistent Play, Goalie Carousel & COVID-19

Jan 18th 1:35 PM
Column

NHL Players of the Week: McDavid, Stamkos & More

Jan 18th 1:20 PM
Archives

Mark Messier – NHL Legend and 6 Time Stanley Cup Winner

Jan 18th 12:50 PM
College Hockey

College Hockey Report: Recapping the Weekend Action (Jan. 16-17)

Jan 18th 12:35 PM
Boston Bruins

NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Oilers, Jets, Bruins, Penguins, More

Jan 18th 12:15 PM
Vancouver Canucks

Canucks’ Weekly Report: Miller, Hoglander, Markstrom & More

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information