LAS VEGAS | “We often won the Stanley Cup together when we played in the street. We often imagined ourselves here. And here we are.”
Marc Staal remembers as if it were yesterday the many friendly hockey games played on the local rink or in the neighborhood of Thunder Bay that saw him and his brothers grow up.
Many times, he visualized this scene where his brothers Jordan, Eric and he lifted the Stanley Cup, distributing it to each other.
“We dreamed about it several times. To be here at this point in our career is incredible. We will try to make the most of it, ”launched Marc, met during the day devoted to the media.
For the moment, it is rather the players of the Golden Knights who benefit from it. Jonathan Marchessault and his teammates made short work of the Panthers in the first two games of the Finals.
But nothing is decided yet.
Eric, a ghost
The story is all the more incredible since neither Marc nor Eric were members of the Panthers on this date last year. Both were acquired through the free agent market. Marc, in July, Eric, in October.
“It took me a little longer than him, but the idea was to play together as part of a team that would be successful,” said Eric.
In the case of the latter, the situation is even more particular, considering the fact that he did not even play in the Bettman circuit last year. After 17 seasons in the NHL, he had to take a detour from a campaign in the American League. With the Iowa Wild, he played four games.
“It’s proof that you should never take anything for granted and that you should savor every moment. I’m grateful to get this other opportunity,” said Eric, 38.
If the Panthers were to win the Stanley Cup, Eric Staal would become the first player to enjoy two conquests separated by an interval of 17 years. He wore the colors of the Hurricanes when they beat the Oilers in 2006. He would surpass the 16 years during which Chris Chelios had to wait between his 1986 coronation with the Canadian and that of 2002 with the Red Wings.
For his part, Marc could finally engrave his name on the cup after having failed in his first attempt, in 2014, with the Rangers. Of the three brothers, he is the only one who has still not achieved this feat.
“Jordan and I were lucky enough to win the cup early in our careers, which he didn’t. It’s still on his list and we’re going to help him seize his chance, mentioned Eric. However, he has already made it to the final, so he understands what that entails.
beat the little brother
To reach the second final of his career and get another chance to fulfill his dream, Marc had to smash his younger brother’s. Swept away by his brothers and the Panthers, Jordan and his Hurricanes teammates saw their journey come to an abrupt halt in the Eastern Conference Finals.
“It was difficult to beat Jordan. I encouraged him until we played against him. Besides, we always encouraged each other growing up, so it was not easy, ”said Marc.
“He worked so hard. They had a great team. The series was so close that the result could have been the opposite,” he added.
Moreover, the handshake following the elimination of the Hurricanes had something touching.
“He told me to go win the cup,” said Marc.
We can imagine that if the name of Marc joins that of his brothers on the Stanley Cup, Jordan will know how to forgive him.