Latest on Eric Staal’s contract status with the Carolina Hurricanes, plus a look at the L.A. Kings depth at center.
Eric Staal’s future in Carolina still to be resolved.
Eric Staal faces an uncertain future with the Carolina Hurricanes.
ESPN.COM: Scott Burnside considers center Eric Staal the Carolina Hurricanes’ most important playing for the coming season, but he wonders about the 30-year-old’s long-term future with a rebuilding team that isn’t very good and likely won’t be for some time. He is eligible next summer for unrestricted free agency, and will earn $9.5 million in actual salary this season ($8.25 million cap hit).
Staal and GM Ron Francis will either have to work out a more affordable deal for the next three or four seasons, or find a team that will give Staal a shot at winning another Stanley Cup title while fetching the best return for the Hurricanes.
Francis also has to do the same with long-time Hurricanes starting goalie Cam Ward, though his value as a trade asset isn’t as good as Staal’s.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Back in the spring, I assumed Francis might move Staal in late-June or early-July if they didn’t have a workable deal in place by then. Evidently, Francis is willing to see how things unfold during the final season of his captain’s contract.
If the Hurricanes fail to show significant improvement this season and if the two sides are no closer to a new contract as the trade deadline approaches (likely to be sometime during the week of Feb. 28 to March 5), Francis could attempt to move Staal. Until then, it appears Staal will start the upcoming season with the Hurricanes.
Kings face questions at center.
NHL.COM: Curtis Zupke believes the Los Angeles Kings didn’t do enough to address their depth at center after opting not to re-sign Jarret Stoll and terminating the contract of Mike Richards. Nick Shore and Andy Andreoff have 52 combined NHL games under their belts. Zupke anticipates the Kings will evaluate some of their prospects, or they could acquire a center.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cap space will be an issue. The Kings currently have over $6.3 million available. That could shrink considerably depending upon Slava Voynov’s status once he completes his 90-day jail sentence on a domestic violence charge, and if an arbitrator rules against the Kings in the NHLPA’s grievance case over the termination of Richards’ contract.
If Voynov returns, his $4.166 million cap hit will eat up a big chunk of that cap space. It remains to be seen if the league will allow the Kings to buy out the remainder of Richards’ contract if they lose the termination case.
Assuming they still have sufficient cap room, Stephen Weiss, Derek Roy, Mike Santorelli, Maxim Lapierre and Marcel Goc are available via free agency if they chose to go that route.
Instead of searching for solutions at C, the Kings should enroll the entire team in substance abuse/rehab programs – I think that would do more for their chances next season.
As to Staal, he’s not worth either his salary or cap hit so it’ll most likely be a deadline deal or he’ll walk into FA.
Well apparently so should the Rangers, they had no issue signing one of the problem players from LA.
As for the C’s in LA, Lewis can play center and is one of the Kings best two-way players. So I wouldn’t be surprised if you see him and Shore as 3/4 C.
Exactly. It was Lewis’ play that made Stoll expendable (even with out the drug charge). The way Sutter rolls his lines, the 4th line would be perfect for one of the Calder Cup champions’ centers to come up and compete.
Dan39 must be a Sharks or Ducks fan.
Good comments, both!
While I’ll agree that Lewis will get moved to center and is capable at the position I still agree with Zupke.
When you look at the center-depth on their Cup winning teams, where they had 4 good centers and another 1 or 2 playing the wing, this current roster just doesn’t have what it takes to win it all. and that’s how we see them right? As real contenders.
I understand why Lombardi didn’t address the issue this summer as he needs to leave cap space until his off ice drama settles gets worked out but sometime between now and the trade deadline he will need to pick up at least one NHL caliber center man.
One last thought, I like Weal but I don’t see him ever playing center on a Darryl Sutter team.
I think due to LA’s past 2 cup victories we presume them to be contenders even though they missed the playoffs last season with Richards; played 53 games, & Stoll in their line up but times are changing & when Voynov returns to the cap on or about October 7th & Richards is reinstated, which although not guaranteed I can’t see a scenario currently where this plays in LA’s favor. They will be well over the cap & have to move out close to 4 million. LA simply doesn’t have the $ to bring in another seasoned NHL center.
Weal is definitely starting his career as a winger. Personally I think the combo of Shore and Lewis as 3/4 c is more than capable of making LA a true contender. Shore was a beast last year in the A and has a very reliable 200 ft game, as does Lewis.
The loss of Richards, Stoll and Williams barely puts a dent in the Stanley Cup experience and leadership on this team.
this might be the dumbest comment I’ve read in a long time, not the typical, well-informed, insightful comments we usually find on this site.
Percentage NHL players that probably partake in illegal substances a few times a year is more than any of us would like to think. No one said Stoll was an addict. As a Ranger fan I sure hope I am right…
The nice part of the Stoll deal is that NY has ZERO risk other than the 800k. If they send him down on waivers, he won’t even count against the cap. This signing made a lot of sense to me. Hopefully Stoll doesn’t go off the rails. It would free up Hayes for the top 6 position vacated by St.Louis. And I think I’d rather see Hayes than JT Miller in the top 6.
I don’t think Staal will be traded at the deadline simply because his cap hit is $8.5 million. The only teams that would have interest would be contenders, and most contenders are at or near the cap as it is. It’d be very difficult to do a trade for Staal with equal salary going the other way.
I don’t believe it would be that difficult. Most of his hit would have already been absolved by Carolina at the deadline. Basically a new team will be responsible for only 20% of his 8.25 cap hit. Which would be less than $2 million. And that is with Carolina retaining nothing of his salary. I think even cap pressed teams would be able to clear that kind of space.
I agree NYR, Stall won’t be hard to move at the deadline if Francis puts him on the block. There’s also some budget conscious teams who might open their wallets to solidify their playoff chances and make a run. As you pointed out already, even teams with minimal cap space can make it work as was the case with Yandle.
I would be interested to see what someone like Stall gets as a UFA. $8.25 makes sense and more often than not players look for an increase.
I wonder if he gets paid $7Mx5 from someone or if it’s more like $6Mx2.
I don’t think Staal is going to be getting paid elite C money given his recent production in the 50-60 pt range with all the 1st line, PP1 time.
Maybe a shorter term deal if he wants to keep the dollars high otherwise, and especially if he wants to go to a contender, he’s looking at a significant pay cut.
If Kesler can get 6 years at near 7 million, I’d say Staal will have NO problem getting a 4 year 7 per deal on the open Market.
I was originally thinking putting down $7M/4 years as well. I think that makes sense, he is still a great player playing on a pretty weak team. Elite centers are now worth $10M/8 years.
Totally unrelated but Leafs have just hired Jacques Lemaire as a Special Assignment Coach. I wonder when Marty Brodeur is coming?
I currently have Lewis as the #3 C as well. He was originally drafted in the 1st round; 2006 17th overall, as a C but has essentially been a RW in LA todate.
Lucic, Kopitar, Gaborik.
Pearson, Carter, Tiffoli.
King, Lewis, Brown.
Clifford, Shore, Nolan.
Spare Andreoff
I think LA will look with in 1st for a C if the above C formation doesn’t work. Weal & Dowd both C’s appear to be ready for the next step & Weal is fast approaching his waiver eligibility. Weal appears to be a good fit between King & Brown as the 3rd line C. Moving Lewis to the #4 RW spot & bumping Nolan to spare & Andreoff to the minors. King & Brown would provide Weal with a ton of size & grit to help buffer Weal’s transition to the NHL. He isn’t big at 5’9″ 173 lbs & Brown & King could use a more offensive presence than Lewis to help generate more offense from the 3rd line. Although that isn’t really Sutter’s MO.
I can’t believe LA is going to pay Brown a cap hit of 5.875 to be a 3rd line RW?
Everything I have read sounds like Weal is the front runner to be making the roster this year after his incredible year in the A. He will most likely be moved to the wing to start.
As for Brown, apparently he has been training like a beast all summer and is in incredible shape. In saying that, I still predict he will be traded next off-season to a good up and coming team like Buffalo, who could use the cup experience and leadership to guide their excellent young talent.
That Brown contract was only really value for the first couple of years, then overpayment for a probable third liner. Many called it for what it was at the time of signing as there were questions, mainly of the contract length. It’s an almost Clarkson-like situation because no one will like to take on that $5.9M cap room from Kings going forward. Kings are stuck with that contract, for better or worse. The overpaid bottom sixers of the world (Eller, Lecavalier, Brown, Clarkson) are generally stuck with their teams.
Well if Clarkson was traded than ANYONE can be traded. Lets not forget, unlike Clarkson, Brown has won TWO Stanley cups and could have very easily won a Conn Smythe as well. If you think there won’t be a team/GM in the league that would like to have that leadership and experience on their team then your crazy.
I’m not saying Brown will land LA a huge haul in return, but he is most definitely trade-able.
Well, I knew the usual Clarkson argument was coming but it is null and void and everyone knows it. That trade was an anomaly with no historic precedent. More happenstance than anything.
There are 29 teams out there that theoretically would want Browns services. There are probably less than one team that wants him for $5.9M on a multi-year contract going forward. It is the CAP that dictates financial reality.
There is no way in hell,Weal would be the 3rd line center over Trevor Lewis!
Do you even watch the Kings play?
They should’ve signed Stoll back at a discount, which is what the Rangers got.
Hopefully they can get him back out off waivers or at the trade deadline.
Mistake by the Kings’ Dean Lombardi (knee-jerk reaction to Voynov situation), everyone makes mistakes.
Stoll deserved another chance with the Kings at 3rd or 4th line center.
He’ll be missed big time!
If I’m a GM I don’t get this far into the new season not locking up my best players moving forward if they are going to be UFA’s after the coming season. This reduces your bargaining position & you put yourself in a position where you may acquire little to nothing in return. See Parise in NJ, Suter in Nashville, Vrbata in Arizona, etc. Brutal asset management.
If I’m Francis I have E. Staal committed; not signed as not yet eligible but negotiations done, to a deal before July 1st or I look to move him well teams still have buckets of cap space to potentially take on his contract & maximize his return. Moving him at the deadline might get you a 1st, a prospect but not a stud prospect, a 3rd line depth player, plus futures should he resign with the team you traded him to but I don’t feel this is the best return or good asset management.
Numerous other teams are playing Russian Roulette as well. TB Stamkos, Winnipeg Ladd & Buffy, Calgary Giordano & Hudler, LA Kopitar & Lucic, etc. Then you have teams that put themselves in this very position. Arizona signing Boedker to a 1 year deal making him a UFA after next season. I just don’t like this strategy as it’s potential consequence should they not resign can be significant & not worth the risk.
Maloney in Arizona let Whitney walk for nothing after he was their highest scorer, the next season he let Vrbata walk for nothing as well & replaced neither of them. Whitney wanted 2 years; Maloney was only willing to give 1, it wasn’t a money issue. He went to Dallas & was never the same player & since retired. In Arizona he got tons of quantity & quality minutes. In Dallas he was a depth player.
It’s crazy for a team to potentially have nothing to show for players like Parise & Suter. Perhaps this is just the new cap world in the NHL but if I’m a GM I’m not heading down that road unless I’m positive I have a serious shot at the cup & even then I explore all my options 1st before accepting that possibility.
If I’m Francis I would have looked at moving Staal at last season deadline or shortly after Chicago won the cup. I don’t see how he fits into the early stages of this rebuild in Carolina & he will command a significant return if moved at the right time. 6’4″ C’s that can put up points like Staal are a rare commodity. I think last seasons production was due to the lack of talent in Carolina & subsequently always seeing the other teams best checkers than a decline in his abilities.
If you give him 1st line minutes and PP1 time, he’s a 50-60 point guy. Less of the prime usage, probably closer to the bottom of that range.
I just don’t see him as the elite C he used to be earlier in his career… Too many years of deflating, unimportant hockey in Carolina.
I still see E. Staal as a 25 to 30 goal scorer & 70 point #1 C but not in Carolina. They simply don’t have enough scoring ability for him to reach those #’s but on another team with greater depth turning 31 on October 29th I believe he is that player.
In Carolina as currently constructed should he stay after next season, I agree with you completely.
Regardless he will cost 7 million plus on at least a 5 year deal for anyone to sign. Still way to young to take a discount. I see him getting money very close to what Getzlaf received in Anaheim.
Are we seriously so naive that we think that Stoll is some drug addict and this is an isolated event in the NHL? This is common place when you put guys in their 20’s and surround them with lots of money and opportunity. I’m not condoning what he did as being acceptable but I’m not dumb enough to think this isn’t common place. Rangers signed a 2 time stanley cup winner whose been a valuable 3rd line center for 800k. Their the ones that committed the crime getting him at such a value.
Striker
You don’t know what’s going on behind-the-scenes. It’s pretty easy to say this GM should’ve done this and that GM should’ve done that.. But in reality the GMs are dealing with actual people not assets.
So my point is.. Players can lead GMs on and make them believe they are going to sign but then walk.
It happens.. And you can’t really prepare for it
I agree & I would be exploring any & all trade options well in advance so I know what my potential options are if I can’t get it done.
Again that’s easy to say.. But in reality you put your trust in a player and get burned.
It happens
It’s not like trading in a video game.. Staal has all the power in this situation
What can you do if he doesn’t want to move and then walks in the offseason?
Just as Sundin did.