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Matt Stajan News & Rumors

Stajan enjoying playing hockey again
March 11
Calgary Herald
 
"The tortured look on Matt Stajan's face has disappeared in recent times, only to be replaced by a visage of sheer jubilation. Matt Stajan punching the air after scoring his 100th career NHL goal. Matt Stajan yelling at his opponents and mucking things up along the boards. Matt Stajan leading by example and urging his teammates to not let up in the seemingly never-ending fight to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Whether this is a temporary blip — or a permanent change — remains to be seen. But No. 18 deserves at least some of the credit for keeping the Calgary Flames in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race — in spite of a devastating rash of injuries. "He's been playing"
Stajan making most of Flames' chance
March 11
Calgary Sun
 
"In the post-game elation following the Calgary Flames 5-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, Matt Stajan's milestone goal was mentioned. In a year the Flames and the city celebrated Jarome Iginla joining the prestigious 500-goal club, Stajan's 100th career goal may not seem like much. However, to the embattled centre, reaching that mark was meaningful. "It feels really good. It's an accomplishment, for sure," Stajan said. "I wouldn't have even dreamed of scoring one goal, so this is a good feeling." There haven't been as many good feelings for Stajan the past couple of years. Pretty much since he came to Calgary in the Dion Phaneuf trade, there have been all kinds of struggles for the"
Stajan stepping up in wake of mounting injuries
March 8
Calgary Herald
 
"Matt Stajan was only too happy to step in for the injured Michael Cammalleri and centre front-line wingers Alex Tanguay and Jarome Iginla during Tuesday's game. A high-salaried employee ($3.5 million), Stajan often has been the target of grumpy fans for lack of offensive production who are quick to overlook his usual role of third- or fourth-line centre on the checking line. "Guys have to fill in," he said after the game against Montreal. "Obviously the opportunity is there for a lot of guys to play more minutes, get in key situations."
Stajan last Flame standing from Phaneuf trade
February 14
Calgary Herald
 
"Matt Stajan is quite capable of reading the schedule, so he wasn't surprised when he entered the Calgary Flames' dressing room on Monday morning and sees his stall already encircled by reporters. Stajan's former employers, the Toronto Maple Leafs, are on their way to Calgary two years after a blockbuster trade sent him to the Flames. He's the last man standing in Calgary from that fateful deal, with Niklas Hagman, Jamal Mayers and Ian White all gone. (Although the Flames did land Tom Kostopoulos and Anton Babchuk in a deal for White)."
Stajan tries to stay positive
October 28
Calgary Sun
 
"Matt Stajan received good news at Thursday's practice. When the Calgary Flames hit the ice, Stajan was skating on a line. Stajan, a day after being a healthy scratch in his team's 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche, was in the middle of a trio which also included Tim Jackman and Tom Kostopoulos. Whether that translates to Stajan being back in action Friday night when the Flames play host to the St. Louis Blues remains to be seen, but the much maligned centre is trying to withstand this latest disappointment and not fall down in the dumps."
Stajan leads Flames in pre-season shutout
September 28
Calgary Sun
 
"Maybe it was a case of Matt Stajan being fired up because he's grown tired of being in the doghouse. Or maybe the centre, who has struggled mightily since coming to Calgary in the infamous Dion Phaneuf trade, is honestly worried he's become a candidate for a AHL assignment. Or, maybe Stajan is finally about to turn his game around. Whatever the cause, he played the way people have expected for all these months in the Calgary Flames 2-0 pre-season victory over the New York Islanders Tuesday night. Not only did Stajan set up the shorthanded goal by Curtis Glencross which opened the scoring, but also had a few scoring chances himself. To his credit, too, he started on the fourth line with"
Stajan makes no excuses for mediocre season
April 12
Calgary Herald
 
"Matt Stajan stood in the uncomfortable glare of the television lights for an excruciating seven minutes and 26 seconds on locker cleanout day for the Calgary Flames. Give the struggling pivot credit for not slinking out a back door to hide from the assembled press corps, given the central question that awaited him. Namely, how can a player pulling down a $3.5-million annual salary muster just six goals and 31 points in 75 games? "I'm not here to make any excuses," Stajan said. "I just didn't play well consistently. I wanted to put up some more goals and contribute a lot more. It's not that I didn't try and I wasn't working hard. It just never seemed to come together at any point." It"
Stajan's chance to shine
March 15
Calgary Sun
 
"Matt Stajan's reaction when he scored early in Saturday's game against the Vancouver Canucks spoke volumes. Stajan, who went through 11 games in his latest goal-scoring drought, batted a rebound past Roberto Luongo to make it 2-0 and celebrated by slamming into the glass at the end boards. You could understand the emotional release considering the offensive troubles which have beset Stajan essentially from the moment he was acquired by Calgary from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Dion Phaneuf trade midway through last season. The Flames and their faithful had better hope to see more of the same from Stajan. Not necessarily the smacks into the glass, but the goal scoring. With David Moss"
Stajan's post-trade road bumpy and then some
February 1
Calgary Herald
 
"On the one-year anniversary of the day that changed his life, Matt Stajan opted to let the rest of the world debate whether the Trade was won by the Calgary Flames or the Toronto Maple Leafs. To Stajan, the deal propelled him to the next stop on the sometimes bumpy road in the National Hockey League. "Obviously, it's been a long year," Stajan said Monday from his perch in the visitors' locker-room at the Bridgestone Arena. "You go through a lot when you move and change scenery. "But I'm very comfortable now with the way we've been playing in the last two weeks, and I'll just build on that. So it's gone by fast, but it's been a hectic year with a lot of ups and a lot of downs. " He's right"
Stajan, Flames one year after Phaneuf blockbuster
February 1
Toronto Sun
 
"When Matt Stajan came to Calgary a year ago, he walked into an imperfect storm. The Calgary Flames had just lost nine in a row - the damage plummeting them down the standings and on the brink of losing their NHL playoff position. A day after snapping that lengthy losing streak with a win over the Edmonton Oilers, the team underwent massive changes. GM Darryl Sutter shipped defenceman Dion Phaneuf off to the Toronto Maple Leafs and brought in Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Ian White and Jamal Mayers. A couple of days after that, out went Olli Jokinen and Brandon Prust and in came Ales Kotalik and Christopher Higgins. "If they don't lose nine in a row, I don't know if that deal ever happens last"
Former Leaf, rekindled goalie lead Calgary past Toronto
January 16
Calgary Herald
 
"This one was for Matt Stajan. Consider the odds, In 56 games (dating back to last season), Stajan only had two goals to his name. Therefore, fans had no reason to expect the faltering forward to convert in his hometown. The Calgary Flames centre, clearly keyed up over his first game in Toronto as a member of the enemy, actually scored in a 2-1 shootout victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Seriously, he did. "I don't even know how to explain it," a relaxed Stajan said from his perch in the locker-room. "It felt really good. To say it was just another goal, another win - that would be lying, for sure." The goal wasn't a beauty by any means. In a wild scramble, the former Leaf swatted the"
Goal a relief for Stajan
January 16
Calgary Sun
 
"There was the relief of finally finding the net again in a rink in which he established himself as an NHL player, through good and bad. There was the excitement of scoring against his former team and in front of 25 family and friends. And Matt Stajan's reaction after scoring Calgary's lone regulation-time goal Saturday said it all. "I don't even know how to explain it," said Stajan, the Mississauga native who was dealt to Calgary almost a year ago in the trade that brought Dion Phaneuf to Toronto. "To say it was just another goal, another win, I'd be lying. "That was a special one for sure. It's nice to do it in front of my family and in my home town." Not that he was a scoring machine in"
Stajan scores in ACC return
January 16
Toronto Sun
 
"There was the relief of finally finding the net again in a rink in which he established himself as an NHL player, through good and bad. There was the excitement of scoring against his former team and in front of 25 family and friends. And Matt Stajan's reaction after scoring Calgary's lone regulation-time goal Saturday said it all. "I don't even know how to explain it," said Stajan, the Mississauga native who was dealt to Calgary almost a year ago in the trade that brought Dion Phaneuf to Toronto. "To say it was just another goal, another win, I'd be lying. "That was a special one for sure. It's nice to do it in front of my family and in my home town." Not that he was a scoring machine in"
Stajan snaps slump
December 20
Calgary Sun
 
"Had the Calgary Flames pulled off a comeback win or even garnered a loser point, Matt Stajan may have been able to smile. Instead, there wasn't much celebrating for the centre over the fact he finally scored a goal. Stajan ended an 18-game goal-scoring slump with his third-period tally in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild, but it was much too little and much too late for the losing club. "It's nice to score, but it doesn't mean much when you lose," Stajan said. " Hopefully this gets me going offensively and contributing more." The Flames need more from Stajan, who has just two goals in his last 45 games."
Looks like Stajan will face Maple Leafs
December 16
Toronto Sun
 
"Matt Stajan will get the opportunity to face his former Maple Leafs teammates after all. Coming off two consecutive games in which he was a healthy scratch, Stajan said he was told by coach Brent Sutter on Wednesday that he would be in the lineup when his Calgary Flames meet the Leafs at the Saddledome Thursday night. Stajan spent part of practice Wednesday working on the first line beside Jarome Iginla . He also saw some time participating in power-play drills. "I just need to play up to expectations and play the way I know I can," said Stajan, who will be taking on the Leafs for the first time since the Jan. 31 deal that made him a Flame along with Ian White, Niklas Hagman and Jamal"
Phaneuf attends grandmother's funeral; Stajan returns to Flame lineup
December 16
Toronto Star
 
"The news was sad for Dion Phaneuf, and glad for Matt Stajan. On the eve of his biggest game as a Leaf, Phaneuf answered a greater call—the need to be with his family—as it mourned the loss of Phaneuf's grandmother over the weekend. The Leafs captain was excused from the team Wednesday in Calgary so he could travel back to Summerside, Prince Edward Island, to attend the funeral of his grandmother, Roma Phaneuf, who passed away at the age of 83."
Sitting with Stajan
December 15
Calgary Sun
 
"In just a couple of weeks, Matt Stajan has gone from first-line centre to, well, even he doesn't know. With just one goal in his past 43 outings, a shoulder injury suffered in the first game of the preseason, and a subsequent suspected concussion, life after the Maple Leafs has not played out to be the feel-good story the Mississauga native had hoped for. And things aren't getting much better. With a huge contest on Thursday against his former team looming on everyone's mind in Calgary, Stajan must be wondering if he even will have the chance to face the Leafs at the Saddledome, given the fact that he has been a healthy scratch for the past two games. The guessing among those who follow"
Sitting with Stajan
December 15
Toronto Sun
 
"In just a couple of weeks, Matt Stajan has gone from first-line centre to, well, even he doesn't know. With just one goal in his past 43 outings, a shoulder injury suffered in the first game of the preseason, and a subsequent suspected concussion, life after the Maple Leafs has not played out to be the feel-good story the Mississauga native had hoped for. And things aren't getting much better. With a huge contest on Thursday against his former team looming on everyone's mind in Calgary, Stajan must be wondering if he even will have the chance to face the Leafs at the Saddledome, given the fact that he has been a healthy scratch for the past two games. The guessing among those who follow"
Stajan healthy but feeling blue
December 13
Calgary Sun
 
"There was no tirade, no condemnation of the coach and no demand for a trade from Matt Stajan about being a healthy scratch. But don't for a second think the Calgary Flames centre was OK about being in press row during Friday's game against the Ducks either. Stajan was obviously disappointed about being sat out, but looked much like a player who received a message loud and clear after Sunday's practice at the Saddledome. "It's not something you want to happen on a regular basis, that's for sure," he said. "There's a lot of us that need to play better. On that night, that was the decision and I have to play better. I can't sit here and say, 'It shouldn't have been me,' or 'what if?' You've"
'He got me with a good one,' says Flames' Matt Stajan of crunching hit
November 26
Calgary Herald
 
"Matt Stajan harbours no resentment at New York Rangers defenceman Marc Staal. None whatsoever. Likewise for National Hockey League disciplinarian Colin Campbell. "Hockey is a contact sport," the Calgary Flames centre said Thursday after skating lightly at the end of practice in Philadelphia. "There are going to be hits like that." The hit in question dominated the highlights on Monday night. Staal caught Stajan with his head turned just after he dished off the puck to Mark Giordano on an odd-man rush. The rugged rearguard pancaked Stajan with an open-ice body check that brought the denizens of Madison Square Garden to their feet. The collision also sparked intense argument on Twitter over"
Flames captain wishes Stajan a speedy return
November 24
Calgary Herald
 
"The ruling on the ice stands. New York defenceman Marc Staal went unpenalized Monday night for crushing Calgary Flames centre Matt Stajan with an open-ice hit just inside the Rangers blueline. Staal caught Stajan looking the other way, just after he dished off the puck. Somehow, Stajan crawled to his feet and staggered off the ice with the help of teammate Tim Jackman. In keeping with the original decision of the referees, the National Hockey League has no plans on fining or suspending Staal for his actions. Regardless, the hit sparked raucous debate on Twitter, especially since the video appears to show that Staal came from the side and his shoulder/arm hit Stajan in the head. At issue:"
Stajan's painful lesson
November 24
Calgary Sun
 
"Chalk it up as a lesson learned. Not just for Matt Stajan but for every player in the NHL who has plans on carrying the puck over the opposing blue-line anytime soon. "We don't want to give a false sense of security they can carry the puck with their head down," said league disciplinarian Colin Campbell after another day deliberating over a spectacular-yet-controversial hit. "We're trying to reduce those hits that cause concussions, yet we want to maintain hitting in the game. We knew this was going to be real hard when we looked at this project. We said we'd figure it out, but it wouldn't come without pain." You don't have to tell Stajan about pain, as the Calgary Flames centre sure"
Matt Stajan leaves game after taking open-ice hit
November 23
Calgary Herald
 (scroll down)
"To make matters worse, centre Matt Stajan staggered off the ice in the third period after taking an open-ice belt, looking the other way, from Marc Staal. The Rangers defenceman went unpenalized on the play, but debate immediately erupted on twitter over whether the hit was legal under the new National Hockey League rules. "I haven't even seen him yet," Iginla said. "I don't know if he's just winded. Obviously, it was a hard hit. I don't even know if it was clean. It might have been clean. "Obviously, you don't like to see a teammate get hit that hard.""
Stajan gets wake-up call
November 17
Calgary Sun
 
"At this point, it's only a warning shot. It's up to Calgary Flames centre Matt Stajan to prove a brief message is enough. When the puck dropped for both of last weekend's games, Stajan started with a demotion. Instead of skating in a top-six role on a line with Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay, he was moved to the No.-4 trio. In both outings, he was eventually back with Iginla and Tanguay, and it appears he will be there when they face the Phoenix Coyotes Wednesday night, but you can bet Stajan knows how quickly that can happen again. Especially with veteran Brendan Morrison skating on the fourth line and capable of trading places. "We need contributions from all four lines, and when that's"
Stajan is the Flames' new centre of attention
October 19
Calgary Herald
 
"Together one game and garnering eight points, the latest version of the Calgary Flames' leading attack force was back to work Monday. Not surprisingly, the centre of attention was the newest member of the line. "I just played a simple game, just wanted to get those guys the puck, but at the same time make the little plays, be strong out of my own end, create turnovers and just play hard," said Matt Stajan, as he addressed a post-practice throng of media at Max Bell Centre. "I think if everybody's working hard, good things are going to happen and we saw that happen Saturday throughout our whole lineup." The 5-3 National Hockey League victory over the visiting Edmonton Oilers was not only an"
Stajan at home on first line
October 19
Calgary Sun
 
"Signing a four-year, $14-million extension with the Flames last season, Matt Stajan's deal included a modified no-trade clause. The way he's played in two games this season after missing most of training camp with a separated shoulder, he might not need it. The 26-year-old centre isn't going anywhere. That includes his spot between Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay on the top line, where Stajan impressed with a three-point performance in a big 5-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers Saturday. Moved there to provide some spark after the Olli Jokinen, Tanguay and Iginla trio failed to produce any chemistry, Stajan looked at home on the top line. "I'm happy to be back. You miss training camp, you're"
Stajan in line to replace Bourque aside 'jinxed' Hagman
October 13
Calgary Herald
 
"Niklas Hagman is beginning to wonder if he's some kind of jinx. Maybe even a black widow spider. For whatever reason, his linemates keep dropping like flies. "I feel bad," the Calgary Flames winger said Tuesday. "It seems like all the players who play with me tend to get injured." Sure enough, Matt Stajan separated his shoulder in the first pre-season game against Vancouver. His left wing that night? None other than Niklas Hagman. On Sunday night, Rene Bourque staggered off the ice after taking a forearm to the noggin in a collision with Kevin Westgarth. Surprise, surprise. Bourque also plays on the second line with Hagman. "I hope it's not me," Hagman said, with a laugh. Then his face"
Flames welcome back Stajan
October 13
Calgary Sun
 
"Finally some good injury news for the Calgary Flames, who really could use more of it. Centre Matt Stajan, who has been out of action since the first day of the pre-season due to a separated shoulder, was skating on the second line in Tuesday's practice and appears ready for the next game. Stajan's likely return for Thursday's home clash against the Florida Panthers is nothing but a positive. However, given the nature of his injury, it's impossible for the team to say for sure if he will play. "He's getting very, very close," said head coach Brent Sutter. Still, it's akin to only putting a cup of water in the bucket that obviously has a hole in it. After all, we're talking about a Flames"
Flames' Stajan returns to practice
October 11
Calgary Sun
 
"The next hurdle has been cleared by Matt Stajan. The Calgary Flames centre took part in his first practice with teammates since suffering a separated shoulder Sept. 21. "I feel good. I feel really good. I'm just trying to get my skating legs back. I've been skating for a week now, and it's getting better every day," Stajan said after Sunday's morning skate. "It's nice to get out there with the team — feel the puck, get crisp passes back, just start to get the feeling back … So we'll keep going with that and keep getting stronger. Then, hopefully, I'll be back as soon as I can. Stajan has been skating for more than a week in his quest to return from the injury which happened in the team's"
Stajan itching to get back to work
September 24
Calgary Sun
 
"It's been two days since Matt Stajan separated his shoulder, and already he can't wait to get back on the ice. "This is new for me and it's not fun. it's been two days and I already want to get back at 'er," Stajan said while addressing the media in the locker-room Thursday after injuring his right shoulder Tuesday night in Vancouver. "It's frustrating. You work hard all summer, and just an innocent hit that caught me the wrong way separated my shoulder. "I'm just going to work hard to get it back to where it needs to be." Recovery periods for separated shoulders depend on the degree of separation and pain that accompanies it, but Stajan wouldn't divulge how serious his injury is."
Stajan out indefinitely
September 23
Calgary Sun
 
"The shoulder separation suffered by Matt Stajan during the opening night of the pre-season will show whether Mikael Backlund is indeed ready for prime time. That's about the best news the Calgary Flames can take from the injury wave which as ripped through their men in the middle. Stajan is "out indefinitely," the Flames announced Wednesday, which will be a big blow to a squad already without fellow centre Daymond Langkow, due to his neck injury. So it appears the Flames will be without their expected second- and third-line centres when the NHL season opens Oct. 7 in Edmonton against the host Oilers. The benefactor will unquestionably be Backlund, who was expected to push for a roster spot"
Stajan is Phaneuf'd out
September 21
Calgary Sun
 
"If it felt like you were bombarded with Dion Phaneuf news all summer from the centre of the universe, imagine what it was like to live in Toronto. And imagine if you were Matt Stajan. Throughout the off-season, the hockey world was inundated with news about the former Flames blueliner, who was dealt to the Maple Leafs in the middle of last season. There was the appearance on Live with Regis and Kelly when they were in Prince Edward Island. Then came the highly anticipated ascension to the club's captaincy, a story which dragged on for a long time and culminated with Phaneuf joining an elite club with the likes of Dave Keon, Ted Kennedy, Darryl Sittler and George Armstrong. For those"
Stajan ready to play with anyone
September 16
Calgary Herald
 
"Matt Stajan arrived in Calgary last year just in time to play 27 games and centre just about every healthy winger on a struggling Flames roster. The 26-year-old made some nice plays, scored three times with his new team and finished the season with a National Hockey League career-best 19 goals as the Flames bounced him with who he best developed chemistry with. It was a brief trial, to say the least, but there was enough flash from him to submit a good argument for the No. 1 pivot job. Now, with the dawn of a new season, it should be interesting to see where the former second-round draft choice of the Toronto Maple Leafs lines up. Not that it really matters much to him. "I don't really"
New Flames' hands quickly went stone cold
April 12
Calgary Sun
 
"It could've been a perfect setup. As a seemingly endless pack of reporters questioned the Calgary Flames about their offensive shortcomings last week, somebody suggested it was next-to-impossible to develop chemistry with roster upheaval at mid-season. Matt Stajan, one of four skaters to arrive in a massive swap with the Toronto Maple Leafs in late January, isn't one to make excuses. "We knew, coming in, we had fresh faces and you're gonna be playing with guys you haven't played with, but you've gotta make it work in the short period, and that's the way it was going to be this year," Stajan said. "Yeah, it's tough to build chemistry in the short-term, but that's where we had a challenge."
Part-time shine from big line
February 10
Calgary Sun
 
"Jarome Iginla was a stellar setup man. Matt Stajan and Niklas Hagman pulled the trigger. But the fact the Calgary Flames' top trio combined for six points in the 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators means nothing without a win. "Any game you lose is tough to swallow, especially at this time of year," said Stajan, who potted his second goal as a Flame and added an assist in the losing cause. "When you contribute it's nice, but when you don't walk away with a win it doesn't mean anything. We've got to make sure we're doing that and winning hockey games." It was a tease to see the forwards playing so well together, but ultimately unable to make the difference."
Quick-draw Stajan breathing easier now in the wild west
February 8
Calgary Herald
 
"It took a few days, but, finally, Matt Stajan is breathing easier. Goodness. Had it been the shock of being uprooted from his home province? The upheaval of being traded from his hometown team? No. "Just the high altitude," Stajan says of Calgary's notoriously thin air. "Not that big a deal. You just go with it." But, yes, it certainly has been jarring for Stajan, an Ontario guy through and through. Born in Mississauga. Played junior for Belleville. Skated in nearly 450 games for the beloved Toronto Maple Leafs. So being dispatched to an outpost like the Calgary Flames -- actually, to anywhere outside the realm of the Leaf Nation -- may have felt like a boot in the noggin. "Definitely,"
Stajan adjusts to new life
February 8
Calgary Sun
 
"The Rocky Mountain altitude isn't the only thing Matt Stajan has to adjust to with the Calgary Flames. Finding himself a little short of breath at times over his first few whirlwind days in Calgary wasn't just the result of the thinner air. It's going to take the Mississauga product a while to get used to being away from home. The trade from his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs to the Flames last week is still sinking in with the 26-year-old Stajan, who was never far from the GTA during his junior days with the nearby Belleville Bulls before being drafted by the Leafs in the second round in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at — you guessed it — the Air Canada Centre in Toronto."
Savvy Stajan shows early signs of chemistry with Iginla
February 4
Calgary Herald
 
"Beakers, test tubes, Bunsen burners, alcohol lamps and slit-open frogs leaking nasty fluids weren't really young Matt Stajan's thing. "I wasn't,'' he noted wryly, "really a science guy in school.'' But a certain form of chemistry, he gets. If the laboratory is a 200 x 85 sheet of frozen H2O. He's savvy enough to understand certain ingredients, when mixed together, can produce wondrous things or blow up in your face. "Sometimes,'' said Stajan, "you feel that connection, that chemistry, right away with linemates. Sometimes, it takes awhile. And sometimes, no matter how hard everybody tries, it doesn't happen at all. "I'm looking to pass the puck. That's my first option. Complement the other"
Fresh faces hear familiar boo birds
February 2
Calgary Sun
 
"Must have felt like home. Just one day after arriving in Calgary, the four newcomers from the Dion Phaneuf deal were treated to boos as they left the Saddledome ice for the first time Monday night. They're got used to that sort of treatment as members of the Toronto Maple Leafs but don't want to make it a habit here. "It was really nice to see all the red jerseys," new Flames winger Niklas Hagman said after a 3-0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. "Obviously, we would have wanted to play better for each other and for the fans. "The fans, they're free to express their opinion. Hopefully, it's not something we're going to hear much more." Hagman, fellow forwards Matt Stajan and Jamal Mayers"
Stajan centre of attention
February 1
Calgary Sun
 
"The carrot is dangling before Matt Stajan. A playmaking centre, Stajan has spent the past few months this season skating on a line with Phil Kessel. That's as good as it gets when you're on the 2009-10 edition of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Now part of the Flames, acquired Sunday in the seven-player trade, Stajan could end up with Jarome Iginla on his right wing. Even with Iginla going through a tough season, especially the past couple of months, that's a serious upgrade. It may not start that way, but you know the Flames will eventually see whether something clicks between Stajan and Iginla. "I like to pass the puck and find guys who can shoot the puck, so maybe there will be a fit there,""
Shocked, but excited to be dealt to Calgary
February 1
Calgary Herald
 
"Reaction was much the same; surprise, shock and excitement. The four newest members of the Calgary Flames were in a spin early Sunday as they first dealt with the logistics of having been traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs and then settled into the realization it was a chance to further their careers with a more competitive team. "Obviously, it is a shock when you realize that you've been traded, but hockey-wise I'm excited," said Niklas Hagman, a 30-year-old Finnish forward who should add considerably to the Flames offence. "Obviously, having family and a couple of kids, it's not the hockey thing that goes through your mind because hockey is the same in Calgary, Toronto or wherever. It's"
Flames trade Phaneuf to Leafs in multi-player deal
February 1
Calgary Herald
 
"Dion Phaneuf's days as a Calgary Flame are done. General manager Darryl Sutter shipped the heavy-hitting defenceman to Toronto Sunday in a blockbuster deal for forwards Niklas Hagman, Matt Stajan, Jamal Mayers and defenceman Ian White. The Maple Leafs also pick up forward Fredrik Sjostrom and minor-league defenceman Keith Aulie. The Flames desperately needed to inject some scoring acumen into their lineup, and Sutter has certainly accomplished that objective in dramatic fashion. Stajan immediately becomes the second-leading scorer on the Flames with 16 goals and 41 points in 55 games. Hagman has 20 goals and 33 points. White adds some offensive punch from the blueline with nine goals and"
Flames trade Phaneuf to Leafs in exchange for 4 players
January 31
Calgary Herald
 
"Dion Phanuef's days as a Calgary Flame are done. General manager Darryl Sutter shipped the heavy-hitting defenceman to Toronto Sunday in a blockbuster deal for forwards Niklas Hagman, Matt Stajan, Jamal Mayers and defenceman Ian White. The Maple Leafs also pick up forward Fredrik Sjostrom and minor-league defenceman Keith Aulie. The Flames desperately needed to inject some scoring acumen into their lineup, and Sutter has certainly accomplished that objective in dramatic fashion. Stajan immediately becomes the second-leading scorer on the Flames with 16 goals and 41 points in 55 games. Hagman has 20 goals and 33 points. White adds some offensive punch from the blueline with nine goals and"
Leafs get Phaneuf, Giguere in multi-team blockbuster
January 31
Toronto Star
 
"GM Brian Burke has shaken up his struggling squad in a blockbuster multi-team trade with the Calgary Flames and Anaheim Ducks. From the Flames, the Leafs ended up star Flames defenceman Dion Phaneuf, as well as forward Fredrik Sjostrom and defenceman Keith Aulie. They gave up forwards Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman and Jamal Mayers, and defenceman Ian White. Burke called Phaneuf "an elite player.""
Trade speculation surrounds Leafs
January 26
Toronto Sun
 
"The future of Mike Komisarek and several of his Maple Leafs teammates is about as clear as the bleak January skies. As Komisarek works to return from a suspected shoulder injury, several Leafs are pondering their future, unsure whether they still be in Toronto hours after the NHL trade deadline passes on March 3. Komisarek can rest easy knowing it's nearly a certainty he will not be dealt prior to the deadline. Not so for a group of players heading for unrestricted free agency, including goalie Vesa Toskala and forwards Lee Stempniak, Matt Stajan and Alexei Ponikarovsky. General manager Brian Burke has said he would not be adverse to taking on salary in a trade, and if it meant sending a"
Stajan says Leafs need to be more consistent in 2010
January 1
Toronto Sun
 
"If the Maple Leafs are to make a serious run at the playoffs for the first time in five seasons Matt Stajan has a New Year's resolution that will help. "I just think we've got to keep playing hard, more consistency as a team," Stajan said when asked what the team needs to do after putting the first half of the season to bed with a sleepy 3-1 loss to the Oilers here on Wednesday night. The team's first-line centre is frustrated by the lack of form indicative of a team that can grind out a win against the Stanley Cup champions one night then be non-competitive against one of the worst teams in the league in its next start. "We tend to take a period off here or there and it costs us some"
Stajan calls for more respect
December 21
Toronto Sun
 
"Matt Stajan feels there was no maliciousness involved by Boston Bruins defenceman Johnny Boychuk Saturday night. At the same time, Stajan, still sporting a stiff neck from being flattened, urged NHL players to use more respect in order to avoid headshots. Stajan was crushed by Boychuk late in the Leafs' 2-0 victory Saturday, but was able to return. While no penalty was called on the play, the Leafs claimed Boychuk left his feet. In the wake of the controversial hit, Stajan was asked if there should be a rule adopted that deters such blows from being delivered. Having pondered the issue, Stajan said the check certainly falls into a grey area. "I think it is just respect for the player,""
Matt Stajan misses Leafs practice after crushing hit
December 21
Toronto Star
 
"Leafs centre Matt Stajan missed practice Sunday with a cut on his eye, but he is expected back in the lineup Monday when the Leafs face the Buffalo Sabres at the Air Canada Center. Stajan was cut just below the right eye, the result of a thunderous open ice hit from Boston's Johnny Boychuck Saturday night. Stajan was flattened – Boychuck's elbow came up into his face – and lay on the ice for several moments before heading to the dressing room. No penalty was called on the hit, and Stajan returned to the game, which the Leafs won 2-0."
Happy birthday, Matt
December 20
Toronto Sun
 
"Matt Stajan won't forget his 26th birthday present from Boston Bruins' defenceman Johnny Boychuk. Moving through the neutral zone with his head down, Stajan caught the brunt of Boychuk's shoulder check as the Bruin lined him up perfectly. Stajan's visor was crushed against his nose and it opened a bloody cut. While he lay on the ice, Alexei Ponikarovsky and Tomas Kaberle led a Leafs charge after the culprit. "You guys can make the judgement whether he went for my head or not," a patched up Stajan said later. "I thought he jumped at me.""