Thanks to everyone for their advice. Now I need a little more:)

Originally, I had my eye on a Lamiglas Certified Pro. 8 ft 9inch extra fast action (soft tip right?) medium heavy power. They call it the Steelheader Spin model.
However, I am new to this and it seems that I may be way off when it comes to choosing steelhead gear. Many guys seem to like their rods in the 9.5 ft to 10.5 ft range.

What is the most versatile length, power and action for steelhead? I would like to be able to try a few different techniques with one rod (in case one technique doesn't seem to be producing:) Also, I generally prefer a little more power in my other fishing rods but perhaps this is backwards for steelheading? Will a Medium Heavy power rod with an ex fast tip work well for steelhead or is it a huge compromise?

Thanks