Yesterday, in advance of this afternoon’s National Hockey League trade deadline, the Rangers acquired four-time All-Star Eric Staal from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for two draft picks and a prospect. They can also remind you that Al Montoya was the Rangers’ top pick, sixth overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft while Lundqvist was found with the No. 205 overall selection in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. The biggest pull for Staal – who isn’t getting any younger at 31 – would be playing with brother Marc on a contending team and pushing for a second Stanley Cup.
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Staal, a four-time NHL All-Star, has scored 30-plus goals five times. They were able to put up 20 shots on goal in the second period alone, the highest the Carolina defense has allowed in one period all season.
This trade immediately boosts a good Rangers team and should provide a nice boost for them down the stretch. Staal is reportedly seeking a new deal that pays him $9 million per-year.
Hearing that the Carolina Hurricanes traded Eric Staal came as no surprise to some Hurricanes fans.
But by his own admission, six straight seasons missing the playoffs had taken a toll. The forward will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.
He spent the lock-out season (2004-05) with AHL Lowell, tallying 77 points in 77 games.
“I thought he was all right”, said coach Alain Vigneault, who listed Staal’s attributes before expressing hope that the fresh start with the Rangers could rejuvenate the center.
This is a deal of two sides: There’s what the Rangers got and what it cost them to get it. We’re going to break these two things down separately because they contrast pretty drastically. Staal is the first player in National Hockey League history to play one game with three brothers in his career, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Staal still has excellent hands and vision, and even though he’s a 12-year veteran, he’s still only 31.
Staal provides the Blueshirts with needed center depth, the ability to play the wing, a replacement for Rick Nash if his injury doesn’t improve, lots of playoff experience and good size.
“You played a whole year, you grind and you push and when you make moves like the Hurricanes did [Sunday], it can kind of be a letdown for the guys that pushed hard to get them in a spot there. I know he wants to be a part of that”. “It’s too important to your franchise moving forward”.
I will say this: If the Rangers win a Stanley Cup this year (or next) then the deal is brilliant.
So far this season, Staal has struggled with 33 points in 63 games.
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Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh is happy to have Eric Staal as a teammate.
