Eric Staal’s uncertain future with the Carolina Hurricanes, more speculation over possible moves by the Chicago Blackhawks and the New Jersey Devils need for scoring depth in your NHL rumor mill.
Eric Staal’s uncertain future.
Will Eric Staal finish this season with the Hurricanes?
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Chip Alexander reports Eric Staal, a pending UFA at season’s end, faces an uncertain future with the Carolina Hurricanes. Contract talks beween Staal’s agent and Hurricanes GM Ron Francis are expected to commence in mid-January. Neither sides has exchanged contract term length or dollars. If a deal can’t be reached before the Feb. 29 trade deadline, Alexander speculates Staal could be shopped.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staal must accept a considerable pay cut on a much shorter term if he hopes to remain with the Hurricanes. His declining production is certainly not worth an expensive, lengthy contract extension. Despite the decline in his offense, there’s some observers who believe Staal can regain his mojo with a deeper club. If Francis shops Staal at the deadline, there will be considerable interest.
What moves could the Blackhawks make?
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Mark Lazerus wonders if the Blackhawks need a top-four defenseman more than a bottom-six forward. While GM Stan Bowman lacks the salary-cap space to pursue a big-ticket rental like Eric Staal, Kyle Okposo or Dustin Byfuglien, he has a history of swinging late-season deals that help his club. Lazerus speculates Bowman will likely pursue a defenseman.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bowman’s already made a move regarding his defense, shipping Trevor Daley to Pittsburgh for Rob Scuderi, but that was more to free up cap space than to address the need for a skilled top-four rearguard. General Fanager indicates the ‘Hawks have just over $1.6 million in cap space, so Bowman’s got some wiggle room to work with near the trade deadline. However, it’s finding the right fit and what he’s willing to part with in return that will determine if he lands that elusive blueliner. He’ll likely target a pending UFA as a rental player.
What will the Devils do?
NJ.COM: Rich Chere wonders if the New Jersey Devils will be buyers or sellers by the trade deadline. It might be tempting to trade veterans like Lee Stempniak for draft picks at the deadline, but if the Devils remain in playoff contention, maybe GM Ray Shero tries to bolster his roster. Chere feels it’s necessary for the Devils to add a goal scorer. If they can’t find one via free agency this summer, they might have to make a significant trade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Shero has depth in defense to draw upon if he wants to pursue a scorer. The Devils are currently holding a wild card berth in the Eastern Conference. If they’re still in contention by the deadline, I expect Shero will shop for an affordable rental scorer.
I suspect Shero will shop this summer for a more long term scoring option as well. Whether that be by the UFA route or a trade is anyone’s guess, but he does have the cap space, and ownership has the money so many things could be in play in NJ in the coming months… Also Shero has NEVER been afraid to pull a big move. The Devils should be an interesting team to watch with regards to transactions in the coming months.
I agree ralphy devils have a few good young dmen coming up and a star in the net with schnieder a couple goal scorers will help
Goodbye Staal- the Hurricanes can’t afford a half-million a goal guy. They have tried to appease “Eric the Great” for years! Even gave him the “C”- he isn’ any more Captain material than my dog! Hurricanes can get 3 bust their ass guys for the money they pay Staal. Oh yeah, if Jordan doesn’t want to stay here without you, take him with you—more unwise money expenditures. I’d kick Rutherford right in the ass for those contracts. Thanks for nothing Jim…..btw – you’ll be out of Pitt pretty soon.
I never fully understood why Pitt ran to quickly sign Rutherford. He has run Carolina into the dirt and jumped ship only begin to further dismantle the Penguins.
what a bonehead play marner just made with 3mins left!geez about to go on the pp and punches a guy in the face to even it up sigh……
Marner is a dick
the guy got 2 goals only guy that showed up look in the mirror d##k head
Hate to break it to you but if you had to pinpoint where it went wrong. I would point the finger at blackwood and virtanen. Blackwood should have been pulled in the 2nd. And there was no dumber penalty in the game than virtanens double minor when Canada was about to go on the power play. With 7 mins to go. Not trying to stick up for marner but he did get punched twice then retaliated. Also he won player of the game. Not sure you guys watch the whole game
Who cares if he got punched twice? If he got punched 10 times he still should not have retaliated at that point. Marner played a great game but his immaturity reared its head and he robbed himself of a shot at gold. That being said, it’s not his fault,Virtanen’s or Blackwood’s. Win and lose as a team. Canada just didn’t have the talent to match the Europeans this year. The boys played their guts out and i’m sure they feel much worse than us sitting at home. I retract my earlier post calling Marner a dick and would rather commend the guys for a thrilling game. Just didn’t go our way this time.
the whole team was very undisciplined but as a leaf fan I don’t like seeing a future leaf being so selfish and taking a bad penalty at the end of the game! maybe lowry didn’t coach them well enough but everyone kinda knew this team would struggle right from the start
Marner is very much an I guy he is not a team guy and never will be. He has skill but his attitude will drive Leaf fans crazy another Phil.
till he meets ballcock.
WTF? stupid autocorrect, it should say Babcock.
obe I hope your wrong but I heard that about marner before he was drafted but is just a kid still
Speaks volumss about his character
Should probably take your own advise and watch some games….He isnt any more selfish than Kane Ovechkin Perry Crosby Karlsson Subban or some others known for taking some long shifts
who said anything about taking too long of shifts? it was a very selfish penalty you can deny that! Again he is still a kid
YA I can because I’ve played the game…not really a selfish play…frustrated maybe but I doubt he retaliated for selfish reasons not sure after getting whaked in the head a couole of times the firzt thought running thru someones mine is Ill hit them back so I look good…Have you ever
played the game big bear?
to a higher level than you shticky
when your team is down a goal about to go on a pp you don’t touch the other player you think of the team first very selfish penalty!AGAIN he is still just a kid
Right down a goal (already losing) and frustrated, if he doesnt take the penalty, and they end up losing anyway, meatheads such as yourself who clsim to have played to such high levels would be screaming that he got pushed around and wasnt tough enough they had no heart and all the rest..they lost because they were not good enough. They were beat handily by the US Sweden and the Finns If they were up by a goal or even tied and he takes a penalty that the Finns put away to win or tie tje game thats another thing but already losing and getting pushed around? Thats a frutration thing that didnt cost the game…especially when they gave up 6 goals
meathead eh!! lmao coming from the guy who said in NO way the leafs would hold salary and hes not a cancer in the locker room! lol shticky all you can do is read stats you have no idea what makes a good hockey player you even said leipsic is a better prospect than Ritchie in Anaheim! lol keep reading the stats page shticky
rofl
Idk why Lowry stuck with Blackwood.
Bad move tbh
Jeezus he’s a dick and 1 game speaks volumes of an 18 year old kids character? And he was the best player on the ice? The team wasnt very good, were not expected to be a favorite….get over yourselves.
If he doesnt take the penalty and they still lose all yall would be spouting off that he wasnt tough enough, didnt care blah blah blah. Not that I often agree with Cherry but look at who is playing in the NHL who would have been on that team, McDavid Ekblad Fabbri Bennett , dumb to think that was the best juniors Canada could ice…it was a weak year and without Crouse and Marner that team doesnt even make the quarter final. They were a weak team leading up to the tournament with questionable D and goaltending.
lol
You disagree?
lol
Genius
im laughing because coming from you telling someone to ” get over themselves ” is hilarious
15 goal against in 3 games between Sweden the US and Finns and it was the one penalty that Marner took that cost them? Idiotic
marner was good, not great
whole team made rookie penalty mistakes
international rules and refs
Have to agree, Marner was only really noticeable in the last game. Fairly invisible prior to that. Strome looked very good at times. The whole team was inconsistent and underwhelming. Blackwood was weak when it really mattered.
washington or chicago 1st round pick for leo komorov?
marner was good; strome was better