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New York Rangers: Just how bad is Marc Staal?

By Nicholas Zararis

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 07: New York Rangers Defenceman Marc Staal (18) carries the puck in the first period during the game between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers on April 07, 2018 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 07: New York Rangers Defenceman Marc Staal (18) carries the puck in the first period during the game between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers on April 07, 2018 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 04: Brooks Orpik #44 of the Washington Capitals attends warm ups before playing in Game Four of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at Capital One Arena on June 4, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 04: Brooks Orpik #44 of the Washington Capitals attends warm ups before playing in Game Four of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at Capital One Arena on June 4, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Brooks Orpik

There is something to be said for a player that was traded after winning the Stanley Cup, bought out and then going onto sign with the team that traded him. Brooks Orpik has moved into rarified air in terms of a unique offseason. As to why the Washington Capitals decided to bring Orpik back into the fold for a cup defense remains a mystery.

This past season Orpik went an entire season without scoring a single goal and only registered ten assists. Going beyond conventional stats and it is outright insane that Orpik was on the ice in a Stanley Cup Final. The former Boston College Eagle had a 43.7 CF% during the regular season. Meaning that Orpik was just a hair better than Staal was for the Rangers this past season. Relative to the rest of his team, Orpik was a -6.5 Corsi relative, far and away the worst of any defenseman on the Capitals.

Luckily for Washington, they were able to make Orpik’s contract go away using Phillip Grubauer as bait. The fact that the Rangers are paying Staal $4.7 million more than Orpik is a painful reminder of the risks of contract negotiations.

Staal and Orpik both fall in the similar grouping of over the hill defenseman that have played too many games. Both are on the wrong side of 30 with lots of miles on their tires. It is no surprise that both struggle to exit and enter their respective zones.

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