A former CH captain with Team Canada?
Free from any contract since his departure from the Canadiens last July, Eric Staal did not take time to resume his old habits, having recently joined the Iowa Wild in the American Hockey League.
For his first game in over six months on Friday, Staal collected two points, including a goal, in a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Wolves. The 37-year-old is no stranger to it. The main goal of this trip with the Wild is to get back in shape for the Olympic Games.
«The opportunity to represent Canada and to participate in the Olympic Games are not things you can ignore,» said the latter on Friday, according to statements reported on the league's website.
The good news is that Staal could not only be part of the Canadian roster, but he would also be one of the candidates to carry the team captain's «C». After all, the eldest of the Staal brothers has already participated in the Olympics, having won the gold medal in Vancouver in 2010.
In addition, Staal would be led by another Canadien alumnus, whom he had not had the opportunity to meet during his time in Montreal, in the person of Claude Julien.
After being acquired on March 26, 2021 from the Buffalo Sabres, Staal had contributed greatly to the Habs' fabulous playoff run. He had scored two goals and amassed eight points in 21 playoff games.
The Olympic Games will kick off on February 4th in Beijing.
