He isn't Sidney Crosby, but he may be the next best thing for Jarome Iginla, which is why Darryl Sutter has inked Matt Stajan to a four-year contract extension worth $3.5 million per year.
For a 26-year-old who can pass the puck and boarders around the 20 goal mark perennially, it seems like a good deal for the Flames. Especially when you consider in the final two years of the contract Stajan will earn $2.5 million, which isn't a bad cap hit for a player with his ability.
Prior to the Olympic break, the crafty center was finding his groove in Calgary, scoring three points in three games, and he currently sits second in team scoring with 18 goals and 27 assists.
While he has yet to show he is capable of handling number one center duties in his career, Stajan at times shows he has the skill set to go against the top defensive lines on a nightly basis, he just needs to do it more often.
For those naysayers that say he isn't good enough to play on the first line alongside Iginla, consider that before Matt Stajan, Iggy scored 50 goals playing with Daymond Langkow in 2007-08 and again in 2001-02 with Craig Conroy. Nothing against ...
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Article written by Daniel Sallows
Calgary Flames Sign Another Soldier: Matt Stajan Agrees To Four-Year Extension
March 2nd, 2010 by Daniel Sallows Leave a reply »
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