Staal or Spezza?

[TimmyTabasco]

This morning I read an article in the Vancouver Sun, and it compared the two young stars.

Spezza
Second overall pick in 2001
22 yrs old
6-3, 211 pounds
28 points

Staal
Second overall pick in 2003
21 years old
6-4, 205 pounds
29 points

So, if you were a GM, who would you choose, and why?

[Madferret]

Spezza's a better skater.
Staal's more of a finisher as opposed to Spezza the playmaker.
Ottawa's got enough finishers, I take Spezza..

:cool:

[Darsehole Tucker]

I picked Spezza because I've watched him play and I like what he does (when he isn't getting too fancy.) I honestly think that he'll continue to be a great forward and have a successfull career. Staal could very well be this season's Souray ;)

(After I get back from the Corel Center tonight I might be singing a different tuen)

[TimmyTabasco]

Staal could very well be this season's Souray ;)


Hey now :D

Souray still has the time to prove his last season was no fluke. Don't even say it Johnny :thumb: :nod:

[Man.Utd]

Easily Spezza IMO. I think Staal, along with the rest of the Hurricanes, are playing above their head right now.

[MadDevil]

To be honest, I haven't seen much of either player this year, so I can't really tell which one is playing better. I think long term though, they're both going to be very good players in this league. Spezza is putting up good numbers, but he's also got some pretty good linemates in Alfredsson and Heatley, while Staal doesn't have the same talent around him. Spezza needs finishers around him to be his most effective, while Staal can finish and set up plays as well. Almost too close to tell, but I give Spezza a slight advantage based on what he's done so far.

[TimmyTabasco]

Spezza is putting up good numbers, but he's also got some pretty good linemates in Alfredsson and Heatley, while Staal doesn't have the same talent around him. Spezza needs finishers around him to be his most effective, while Staal can finish and set up plays as well. .

This is why I chose Staal.

He can score, set up goals..and is playing with much less talent in Carolina

Both are excellent players, but I prefer Staal overall

[Man.Utd]

Spezza needs finishers around him to be his most effective

I'd agree with that, his most effective that is. But I can say for sure he is fine on his own and with no help at all.

Spezza played on a laughable Missasauga Ice Dogs team in junior and was by far the league MVP from following my 67's in the PHL. I mean these guys were early '90 Senators bad. They set some freakin' records IIRC. The Ice Dogs had but 3 wins all year and a league worst .110 W%. They had a league worst 157 GF (next was Kitchener with 183) and Spezza, with 116 points, was in on nearly all of them. 74% to be exact. And he only played in 56 of their 68 contests. At season's end, he missed the scoring title by a mere two points (the winner - Kyle Wellwood - having played 13 mroe games) to the #1 center of the league #1 offensive team. He led the league in PPG by a fair margin.


He also carried some very average Binghamton teams to great levels offensively, though only for short spans of time as he was up and down between the NHL. During the lockout, he was league MVP though he had a very strong team with him. For what it's worth, Spezza got 117 pts in 80 GP lat year in the AHL during the lockout. Staal had a very respectable 77 pts in 77 GP.

[Canadian26]

To be honest, I haven't seen much of either player this year, so I can't really tell which one is playing better. I think long term though, they're both going to be very good players in this league. Spezza is putting up good numbers, but he's also got some pretty good linemates in Alfredsson and Heatley, while Staal doesn't have the same talent around him. Spezza needs finishers around him to be his most effective, while Staal can finish and set up plays as well. Almost too close to tell, but I give Spezza a slight advantage based on what he's done so far.

I completely agree with everything you said. Spezza is surrounded by talent, Stall isnt...

[Max Power]

MD C26
I don't completely disagree but saying Staal has no one good playing with him is far from accurate. Cole IMO is a great player who makes plenty of room for Staal and is a big reason for Staals success. Also Spezza has been successful before lining up with Heatly and Alfredson putting up good numbers with limited ice time for Martin.

Saying this I?d probably take either player but only time will tell who the better player will be

[Mel]

I'm reserving opinion until I see Staal play in person this Saturday at Madison Square Garden. :pimp:

[Rusty]

I will reserve my judgement until a later date, as I rarely take the first quarter of a season into count.

And BTW Man U, it is Mississauga, not Missasauga, having lived there for the first 15-16 years of my life the spelling of the town/city was drilled into my subconscience

[Mel]

Looks like I will not get to see Staal live this weekend after all. But it looks like I will get a chance to see Ovechkin play on the following Saturday. :pimp:

I'm with Rusty, let's see who can keep it going beyond the first quarter of the season. Both these kids are clearly on a higher level than where we left off, and that's great to see.

I will say that Spezza most definitely is surrounded by better talent, and that cannot be completely disregarded. The Canes have some good players, but let's be real about the caliber of the Ottawa roster compared with that of Carolina's.

This is not to say Staal is better, but it is similar to the Ovechkin / Crosby comparison... meaning they have similar numbers, yet there is one thing that clearly separates them, and that is the other guys they take the ice with each game.

I have always liked Erik Cole's game... but he ain't no Danny Heatley. Let's face it.

Ditto for Ovechkin, I'm not going to sit here and say he's better than Crosby because there is really no correct answer to that... however one thing we do know for certain is that Sydney is surrounded by world class talent every night. Ovechkin does not have that luxury.

[Newfie John]

Staal is no flash in the pan like Souray was/is. I'll guaruntee that. I think he has a bright career in front of him. I'd have to take Spezza though.

[TimmyTabasco]

Staal is no flash in the pan like Souray was/is. .

You just love rubbing salt in the wound, don't ya? :nod: :thumb:

I still think he can turn his game around. When he does, I'll send you a roasted crow

[Newfie John]

You just love rubbing salt in the wound, don't ya? :nod: :thumb:

I still think he can turn his game around. When he does, I'll send you a roasted crow

I'm sure you'll have plenty left after all of those crows I have sent your way.

I was right and you were wrong.. neener neener neener.. :boogie:

Didn't we make a bet of sorts? Can you remember it?

[Gambit]

One day Staal might end up making us all regret voting against him here, as he certainly is just as talented as Spezza.

But right now, Spezza is too good. Keep an eye on Staal though.