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Eric Staal Thread

If you did watch the last Pens game, for what its worth anyway, Ronnie again stated that his plans going forward is to build a team that will be a regular playoff contender and that he was not going to deviate from the plan to just make the playoffs once. Of course he wouldn't give any specifics, but if you hold him to this general statement then we should expect that regardless of where the Canes sit over the next 5-6 weeks he would move forward with a UFA purge for picks/young players unless he feels there is value in signing and retaining any of these guys before the trade deadline.

At least that is what Ronnie is stating his plan is. "What if" this year is irrelevant. Now that is the right thing for the franchise over the next 5 years in my opinion, but it will be much easier for Ronnie to make those moves if the Canes slide themselves out of the playoff picture. I will be pretty impressed with Ronnie the GM if we are sitting in a playoff spot at the point of time he trades Cam and/or Eric and/or Versteeg. Again that takes some guts to sell to fans and the owner. Even if our local 2 man media team would kind of let that situation slide, the national media is going to be asking 'how can the Canes be trading away their captain in the middle of a playoff run?' Of course, the national media might be distracted the entire time with the Stamkos saga as Steve Yzerman is going to be in the same situation, except with a player who is much much better than Eric Staal.
 
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The best part of LeBrun's article:

"My sense -- and it's truly just my gut feeling -- is that Francis is dedicated to the long-term, big-picture view with his team and he's not going to let anything cloud that path. He's done a solid job of refitting this team with younger pieces. That process will continue."
 
ThinIce said:
The best part of LeBrun's article:

"My sense -- and it's truly just my gut feeling -- is that Francis is dedicated to the long-term, big-picture view with his team and he's not going to let anything cloud that path. He's done a solid job of refitting this team with younger pieces. That process will continue."
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That so called late January meeting Francis will have with Rick Curran should be the tipping factor on how this all goes down.

I still would not rule out a sneaky little rental trade for Eric to a contender for a couple of young trade pieces or picks if the Canes and Eric have some sort of handshake agreement to re-up here in the summer at a reduced rate. Francis needs some youth at the forward position, and I think the only way he gets that sooner is some sort of deadline related trade for Eric of some kind.
 
cmaleski2 said:
If you did watch the last Pens game, for what its worth anyway, Ronnie again stated that his plans going forward is to build a team that will be a regular playoff contender and that he was not going to deviate from the plan to just make the playoffs once. Of course he wouldn't give any specifics, but if you hold him to this general statement then we should expect that regardless of where the Canes sit over the next 5-6 weeks he would move forward with a UFA purge for picks/young players unless he feels there is value in signing and retaining any of these guys before the trade deadline.

At least that is what Ronnie is stating his plan is. "What if" this year is irrelevant. Now that is the right thing for the franchise over the next 5 years in my opinion, but it will be much easier for Ronnie to make those moves if the Canes slide themselves out of the playoff picture. I will be pretty impressed with Ronnie the GM if we are sitting in a playoff spot at the point of time he trades Cam and/or Eric and/or Versteeg. Again that takes some guts to sell to fans and the owner. Even if our local 2 man media team would kind of let that situation slide, the national media is going to be asking 'how can the Canes be trading away their captain in the middle of a playoff run?' Of course, the national media might be distracted the entire time with the Stamkos saga as Steve Yzerman is going to be in the same situation, except with a player who is much much better than Eric Staal.
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I saw the interview with Francis and came away with the feeling was he was going to try his best to trade Staal, regardless of playoff position this year. He seemed pretty committed to the long term rebuild. I hope that was not my wishes tainting what I was hearing, but I really think he will TRY to trade Staal regardless of what happens on the ice from here on out.
 
Certainly efficient that Francis can discuss E.Staal, Ward, and even Skinner, all with the same agent.

Again, perhaps the only way a slight overpayment for E.Staal could be justified would be IF he would agree to waive his NTC to go to a contender.

Gaining us two assets (prospect and late-first-rounder) at entry level contract prices for three years, without having to give up a player or spend an existing draft pick to acquire them, might justify meeting his market price for three or four years.
 
Elsker said:
Certainly efficient that Francis can discuss E.Staal, Ward, and even Skinner, all with the same agent.

Again, perhaps the only way a slight overpayment for E.Staal could be justified would be IF he would agree to waive his NTC to go to a contender.

Gaining us two assets (prospect and late-first-rounder) at entry level contract prices for three years, without having to give up a player or spend an existing draft pick to acquire them, might justify meeting his market price for three or four years.
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Hmmm. Careful dude. It might. Until we quickly realize his decline only continues (in that scenario) and now are stuck trying to trade him with his value very low + a contract with term. Might be an issue when we are trying to find money to pay the likes of Faulk, Hanifin et all going forwad when they are up for raises. I would be very very cautious on any such agreement. If Staal comes back in the offseason, it almost certainly has to be on a contract that either

a/ is somewhere around 5.5-6.5 mil for one or two seasons
OR
b/ at 4.5 million over 3-4 years.
 
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There is absolutely no way whatsoever that Eric is signing for anything other than market value, which is at least at that $6.5M or probably higher.

Hey, I don't want him anywhere near the team. But watch us sign him over the summer, nonetheless.

Also, for sure another NTC comes with that contract. So the "trading him when in decline" is probably not an option, either.

We'll have to live with that mistake, if made...same as we are right now with the existing contract.
 
Elsker said:
There is absolutely no way whatsoever that Eric is signing for anything other than market value, which is at least at that $6.5M or probably higher.

Hey, I don't want him anywhere near the team. But watch us sign him over the summer, nonetheless.

Also, for sure another NTC comes with that contract. So the "trading him when in decline" is probably not an option, either.

We'll have to live with that mistake, if made...same as we are right now with the existing contract.
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Hopefully Francis has been watching and has noticed that Eric hasn't really been a key cog to the revival the team is enjoying. All signs indicate the team would be just fine without him.
 
cmaleski2 said:
If you did watch the last Pens game, for what its worth anyway, Ronnie again stated that his plans going forward is to build a team that will be a regular playoff contender and that he was not going to deviate from the plan to just make the playoffs once. Of course he wouldn't give any specifics, but if you hold him to this general statement then we should expect that regardless of where the Canes sit over the next 5-6 weeks he would move forward with a UFA purge for picks/young players unless he feels there is value in signing and retaining any of these guys before the trade deadline.
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Yeah. Until we see action along those lines that's just nose. It's good noise for once, but meaningless without actually pulling the trigger on a Staal deal. Bottom line, that's EXACTLY who that comment is aimed at. The other guys are just spare parts by comparison.
 
I suppose it depends on what you can get in return for him.

I would think RF is thinking more that he doesn't see E12 as part of the future here and would like to trade him and not sign him back here. If E12 says he will only waive his NTC if RF gives him a handshake deal that the Canes will sign him back in the offseason for $X, then I guess you gotta look at if the added assets for the rental plus the E12 contribution on the ice is worth the dollars times term of the contract.

I hope it doesn't come to that. I think we'll be out of it. I think E12 will waive the NTC for a contender, and I think we'll trade him. I think RF is smart enough to see that even if we're in the race at the deadline that we're not contenders. The fact that we are showing as much promise as we are is a good sign that you're doing the right things, and not a reason to change course. The plan was for this to be a rebuilding year - make it the best rebuilding year you can.
 
RF doesn't strike me as sentimental and ego-invested as JR. If he wants E12 and thinks he's a part of the future here, he'll figure out some way to work it out. I also believe that RF's biggest commitment is to making this a winning organization and he won't compromise that for E12's feelings. I also believe E12 is a character guy and will answer the bell when rung.
 
They cannot officially agree to anything...but that doesn't mean that Ronnie, Eric and his agent can't work out parameters for a deal the Canes would be willing to offer Eric Staal during the UFA signing period. They cannot put any sort of binding agreement that Eric will re-sign OR the Canes will offer a certain contract. That doesn't mean both sides cannot express mutual interest to each other with some parameters before Eric is traded.
 
dwind said:
I don't believe they can do a handshake deal on his coming back.
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They can do whatever they want between the two parties if they all trust each other enough. And by all accounts Curran is the agent for quite a few Canes and has always had a great relationship with Francis so anything is possible. Like CMal noted, both sides can express mutual interest which could easily lead to something down the road this summer, but it all will come down to dollars and term for team and player!
 
cmaleski2 said:
They cannot officially agree to anything...but that doesn't mean that Ronnie, Eric and his agent can't work out parameters for a deal the Canes would be willing to offer Eric Staal during the UFA signing period. They cannot put any sort of binding agreement that Eric will re-sign OR the Canes will offer a certain contract. That doesn't mean both sides cannot express mutual interest to each other with some parameters before Eric is traded.
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This is pretty much what was done with Glen Wesley years ago when he was traded at the deadline. He and the Canes knew there was an offer waiting over the summer to return....which is what he did. I am glad that worked out for Glen, as it was the right move for the Canes.

The right move now is to not bring Eric back. This is a new team that needs to build its own leadership core, starting at the deadline. It is time for Jordan or Justin to take the C, with my preference being on Justin Faulk.
 
Here's an idea I had after reading about the possibility of the Rangers moving Yandle at the trade deadline.

The idea is you trade expiring contracts and ride em out with totally open option after. We get Yandle and who knows, might be another nice vet piece on the back end, def asset there... no commitment, team is what it is - in or out of playoff position etc...
They get - Eric Staal - so that offsets the inter conf. factor - a little. Would be horribly awesome if that goes down and then - the two meet in the playoffs.
Especially since that deal would also need to include a 1st rounder coming back from next draft. Do the Rangers even own a 1st rounder in next draft?
That being said, the bro factor could play either way in this scenario.
Cheers
 
lol if that goes down we could end up with 3 scenarios after the offseason:

1/ E. Staal then re-signs or signs with another team - not with the Canes
2/ Keith Yandle bolts and re-signs with the Rangers - or another team.
3/ We keep our 1st rounder - no matter what.

Of course, we could really strike it rich, Yandle re-signs, E. Staal comes back at a discount resonable term and well, did I say already mention the 1st rounder?
And iimagine, we do meet in the playoffs and we eliminate them? (I know, they resoundly beat us last game... but)
hahah
cheers
 
The good news with how everything is playing out......the push to make the playoffs and the rebuild may not be mutually exclusive anymore. Trading Staal at worst will not hurt this team as he is pretty much along for the ride and not a key contributor anymore. At best trading him could bring in a younger and hungrier player that could help a potential playoff push. Honestly Versteeg will be the trickier decision to trade as I think he would be missed more. Things could be working out pretty nicely.
 
I think there is merit to the idea of Eric Staal going to NY. They are a serious contender without a center of his ilk. The brother factor.
But I would even go further. Obviously NY likely (it is the Ranjerks after all) won't want to bring in a guy with the chance that he won't re-sign and they will be left with nothing.

Eric Staal is UFA
+ 1 young defenseman (Pesce? McKeown?) OR James Wisneiski OR Liles, etc...
+ 2nd round pick in 2016

Keith Yandle is UFA (and comes with an expiring 5.5x mil contract)
+ J.T. Miller OR Oscal Lindberg
+ 1st round in 2016

We not only get to ride out Yandle's contract, in our very own story this season, but we will get a good young forward in either Miller or Lindberg to replace a body now on the roster that Staal will vacate. And it allows for N.Y. to be able to slot in Staal too.

I really like this trade because it helps both clubs. Having a guy like Keith Yandle in the folds(also American!), even if it is for the rest of this season only, could be a very good experience for our young defensemen. And let's face it, at 29 years of age, he's still very serviceable. I dunno if he could be signed in the off season...otherwise, we get either Miller or Lindberg, both young centers (Lindberg is a Swedish born center) to add to our good thing. I don't think either have #1 center attached to their futures, but definitely 3rd line potential. The 1st rounder is what you pay for getting a franchise player. Nuff said.

I think this deal helps both clubs relative to where each is 'at'. The Rangers are poised to make a playoff run, have been playing pretty good all season and would really benifit from a big center like Staal. If he ends up not re-signing in the offseason with them, well at least they have a player to replace Yandle for now and their future.
 
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