Staal 'respectable' in passing competition at NHL Skills Challenge

During All-Star weekend media festivities on Saturday morning in Tampa, Minnesota Wild forward Eric Staal was asked which skills competition he would least like to be a part of.
"Probably the one I'm in," Staal fired back.
Perhaps the veteran centerman has reconsidered.

Taking part in a newly invented competition, Staal briefly held the lead in the Dunkin' Donuts NHL Passing Challenge before finishing second to Central Division teammate and St. Louis Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo.
Those that went early were at a huge disadvantage.
Used for the first time throughout the evening, Tampa Bay Lightning wing Nikita Kucherov slogged through the course as the de facto guinea pig.
The first station involved players passing at two stationary LED targets on the ice, and two more raised several inches off the ice.
Once all four targets were hit, players raced to center ice and a quick give-and-go drill before entering the saucer pass portion of the drill, dumping one puck apiece into four nets; two of which were only a few inches wide. The player's time was taken once he fired a puck from the blue line into an open regulation-sized net.

"It's hard. Once you watch a couple guys go through it, you kind of get a better idea of what you need to do," Staal said. "I thought I might have had the time to beat, but it was a fun challenge. I'm not saying I'm a disher, but I made it work there."
Kucherov's time of 1:39.562 was a low bar to clear; the next six guys to participate in the drill took the lead in the event, including Staal, who went fifth.
Staal was the first player to finish in under one minute, posting a time of 54.679 seconds. It was bested moments later by Pietrangelo's blistering 46.610 second pace.
"It was fun. Pretty laid back," Staal said. "I was done early, so kinda just got to relax and enjoy watching."
Had Staal won the competition, he would have taken home a cool $25,000. Instead, he'll have to settle for the second-place prize of some pride and maybe some bragging rights.
Perhaps more importantly for Staal, his sons Levi and Parker were able to get some autographs and meet some of their favorite players from around the NHL.
"To take it in with them, it's pretty special," Staal said. "They were really focused on watching. Levi was really looking forward to the hardest shot. Parker liked all the events. He was marking it all down in his book, who was the winner and who was the runner-up."
And even though he didn't take home the cash, Staal did make Parker's book.
"Dad didn't win," Eric said, "but came close. Respectable."
Related items:
- Staal anxious to share All-Star experience with family - Staal and Laviolette reconnect in Tampa for All-Star weekend