Eric Staal on pace for highest goal total in 6 years

Eric Staal has been reborn in Minnesota.

The 32-year-old - whose career once appeared to be winding down - is back to producing at an elite level, and it's all thanks to a change of scenery.

After concluding last season with his lowest single-season totals since his rookie campaign - just 13 goals and 39 points in 83 games split between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers - he's been on a tear with the Wild.

With Friday's three-point effort against the Florida Panthers - that included two goals - Staal now has 21 goals and 51 points in 66 games, production that, for a time, seemed unattainable.

In fact, at his current clip, Staal should conclude the year with 26 goals, which would be his highest total since the 2010-11 season when he collected 33 with the Hurricanes.

Meanwhile, he's also on pace to collect 63 points, which would also be his highest mark since the 2011-12 season.

Signed to a three-year, $10.5-million contract on July 1, the deal looked to be a risky move by the Wild, but early on the club looks to be reaping the rewards.

Staal sits second on the team in both goals and points - behind Mikael Granlund in both categories. He leads the team with seven game-winning goals and has contributed both on the power play and penalty kill.

Factor in that Staal has been nearly a point-per-game player in the postseason during his career, and it seems we might not be done talking about the incredible year he's having.