'Something we don't take for granted': Marc Staal plays 1,000th NHL game

Before the Detroit Red Wings took the ice against the Calgary Flames on Saturday night, defenseman Marc Staal was the focus of a special pregame celebration.

Dressed in commemorative Marc Staal-themed T-shirts, the Red Wings coaches and players welcomed the 35-year-old into the visiting dressing room at Scotiabank Saddledome with a round of applause and smiles to recognize his soon-to-be historic achievement.

Shortly thereafter, the veteran defenseman became the 363rd player in NHL history to skate in 1,000-career games, joining his brothers, Eric and Jordan Staal, in reaching the milestone. The trio became the first three brothers in league history to do so.
For Marc Staal, the accomplishment hits close to home.
"Our family growing up, we loved the game, we played it and we kept following each other up the ranks," Marc Staal said. "For us to be able to play as long as we have in this league has been special. It's something we don't take for granted and we're very aware of how lucky we are."
The 12th overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Marc Staal spent the first 13 years of his career with the New York Rangers. He finished with 188 points (43 goals, 145 assists) and a plus-46 rating in 892 games. He was traded to the Red Wings on Sept. 26, 2020, and signed a one-year extension with Detroit last July.

"I just wanted to play well then do my job on the ice and be around the guys, and get to know them and kind of go from there," he said. "It's been an up and down couple years for this team. We've had some good stretches and bad stretches, but it's been a fun team to compete with and work hard with."
The Red Wings' alternate captain has provided a veteran presence along the blue line for a group that is talented, but also young. Marc Staal has skated in 52 games this season, chipping in with 10 points, including nine assists. He's currently averaging just short of 17 minutes of ice time per game (16:47).
"He's been a great addition to our hockey team," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "On the ice, I think he's done a good job for us. He's played good hockey. He's a really, really smart, big, strong player that we don't have a lot of those big strong men like that, so he's helped us on the ice."
In just two years in Detroit, Marc Staal has quickly become one of the leaders in the dressing room.
"From a leadership perspective, he's been great," Blashill said. "I think he's a great sounding board for a guy like Dylan Larkin because of what he's been through in the league. I know Dylan bounces lots of thoughts off him."