Staal: The Next Generation

Eric Staal sat out of practice today.  Not because of some injury or illness that would have us all worried.  Nothing like that at all.  His wife Tanya gave birth to the couple’s first child—a boy—on Tuesday, and he spent the day with her and their newborn son.  Parker Lucas Staal won’t grow up with a makeshift hockey rink in the back yard.  He won’t grow up working on a sod farm either.  He will, though, have a destiny that Hurricanes prospect Brandon Sutter knows all about.  A father and uncles who were all not only players, but star players in the NHL.  A name to live up to.  Some would call it a cross to bear.  Awfully big shoes to fill.