CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. - With his 16th tour of duty in the NHL on the horizon, Marc Staal knows better than most the best way to gear up for the 82-game grind of the regular season.
"You want to get yourself feeling the best you can for Game 1," Staal, who inked a one-year deal with the Florida Panthers in July, said following Tuesday's practice at the Panthers IceDen. "I've been starting to get my legs back under me here in this last week and hopefully I keep trending in the right direction. I've done it enough times, so I should have it figured out by now."
For head coach Paul Maurice, it's Staal's consistency that has really stood out in training camp.
"He runs the same program every day on the ice," Maurice said. "He's a big guy, covers enough ice, and has a great stick. His experience has let his game change as he ages in the league."
NOTEBOOK: Staal starting to gear up; Polishing the power play
In the latest Baptist Health Practice Notebook, Marc Staal is gearing up for the season, the Panthers spend time on the power play and more!