Matt Stajan
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Matthew Stajan (born December 19, 1983 in Mississauga, Ontario) is a professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League currently playing the position of centre with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Early/Junior Career and NHL Draft Status
Stajan attended Iona Catholic Secondary School and St. Paul Secondary School, in Mississauga, Ontario during his High School years where he gained a reputation as a dedicated athlete.As a young hockey player Matt Stajan played for such minor organizations as The Toronto Red Wings.
Drafted 79th overall by Belleville in the 2000 OHL priority selection, he was selected by the Maple Leafs in the 2nd Round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft with the 57th overall selection after a successful season in which he scored 33 goals and added 52 assists for 85 points with the Bulls. Stajan improved his status as a prospect the next season when he notched 34 goals and 60 helpers for 94 points in just 57 games. His fine season would be rewarded with a brief one game stint in Toronto at the end of the junior campaign.
Scouting Report and Player Attributes
Described by scouts as a fluid skater with soft hands and plenty of offensive upside, Stajan represents the next generation of Maple Leafs prospects. That is to say, of course, a versatile player with maturity and composure while also demonstrating an abundance of offensive talent and skill. Stajan has therefore been seen as one of the first major gains by Toronto in their efforts to revamp the scouting and player development aspects of the organization which, for many years, had yielded few successful NHL players. Led by highly-acclaimed Head Scouting Director Barry Trapp, it is hoped that the Leafs shall be able to produce quality NHL players for years to come and build a self-sustaining farm system able to develop players like Stajan on a regular basis.
Embodied with a maturity beyond his years and the makings of early leadership abilities, Stajan is also considered an accomplished defensive player who makes responsible plays at both ends of the ice. Despite these qualities however, Stajan does have room for improvement in a variety of areas. He currently does not demonstrate good puck possession in the corners or along the boards, something that is attributed to his lack of overall strength at this point in his development. At 6'1 and 180 pounds, Stajan has good size for the centre position, but it is thought that added bulk shall help him avoid future injuries and be more of a physical factor. Also, while Matt is considered to have impressive offensive upside, it remains to be seen whether he will have to rely on his line-mates to produce points on a regular basis at the NHL level or if he has the necessary speed to make scoring opportunities occur.
First NHL Experience and Rookie Season
At the age of 20, Stajan was able to make the Maple Leafs roster. He had already accumulated a short one-game stint with the Blue and White the previous season (2002-03) and scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game on his first NHL shot against the Ottawa Senators and goaltender Martin Prusek finishing the season with a shot percentage of 100% (1 for 1). In his first full NHL regular-season, he achieved 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points with a plus 7 rating, while averaging 11 minutes per game centring the fourth-line. Matt was also selected (after Atlanta Thrasher Young Gun Garnet Exelby had to step out of the game due to injury) to the NHL All-Star Young Guns team as a forward during NHL All-Star weekend. At the NHL YoungStars game he scored a goal.
A major reason given for Matt's strong performance as a rookie on a roster laden almost entirely with veterans and experienced players was his relationship with former Leafs centre Joe Nieuwendyk (whom he roomed with on the road). Stajan was granted additional responsibilities over the course of the season and would eventually be given assignments on the penalty killing unit due to his polish in the defensive zone and strong two-way performance.
Current Career Status and Future Expectations
While the 2004-2005 NHL season was cancelled due to the lock-out, Matt played for the St. John's Maple Leafs, the AHL-level affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and performed well offensively, scoring 23 goals and 66 points in 80 games on "The Rock."
During the 2005-2006 season, Stajan especially presented himself as a threat on the penalty-kill. He tied Marian Hossa for first place with eight shorthanded points (4G, 4A).[link]
During the 2006 offseason, Stajan's name was often mentioned in trade rumours. Most notably, the Maple Leafs allegedly offered him to the Edmonton Oilers as the part of a package deal to acquire Chris Pronger. The Oilers had reportedly originally requested for a trade that would send Tomas Kaberle and 2005-2006 rookie Alexander Steen to Edmonton in exchange for Pronger; the Leafs counter-offered with Stajan in Steen's place.[link] The deal eventually fell through, and Pronger was traded to the Anaheim Ducks.
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