Radical change?

by prplmnkydw on Nov 10, 2011 10:21 PM EST

What is the community opinion about possibly trading Eric Staal?

In my opinion, he is a complimentary player, not a leader. He was at his best when he had Brind'amour to lead the way and great wingers (as someone else recently pointed out) to help him score. As a leader and the team's go-to guy, he gets all the defensive attention (much to Skinner's benefit), and gets frustrated a lot. He has never struck me as a very inspirational captain either.

Obviously his big contract is a real problem, but I wonder if we might not be able to trade him straight for another highly-paid first line talent.

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No Deal

Not happening. Staal is not a generational player; but he is very talented. He is not a player who consistently can carry a team; but give him some more talent on his line and he’s hard to stop. Staal and Ward are the faces of the franchise. Neither are going anywhere.

by abramsdoug on Nov 10, 2011 10:28 PM EST reply actions

Well I hope they hurry up with the extra talent for that line.

by prplmnkydw on Nov 10, 2011 11:18 PM EST up reply actions

Extra Talent for Staal's Line

It may well not happen this year for Staal to get additional talent. The Canes, however, are in great shape for the 2012 draft and are poised to get an elite forward. My preferences thus far are Yakupov, Grigorenko, Forsberg, or Galchenyuk. If Dalpe and Boychuk are played in the top six this season, they can help. Rask could well be ready by next season. Things are starting to take shape in the near future. Adding top end talent in the draft is a realistic way for the Hurricanes to become a consistently good team. Unless some new owner comes along with an endless supply of money, the Hurricanes can’t find the funds to sign elite talent.

by abramsdoug on Nov 11, 2011 12:15 AM EST up reply actions

I find it sad that we are in great shape for the 2012 draft, not exactly optimistic, but probably true.

by PittsburghCaniac on Nov 11, 2011 12:47 AM EST up reply actions

the Hurricanes can’t find the funds to sign elite talent.

End of discussion. Being $14 million under the cap means the Canes will struggle to field a playoff-caliber roster.

by Gillimus on Nov 11, 2011 10:37 PM EST up reply actions

Sad but true. Except when the stars really align, money spent= results.

by prplmnkydw on Nov 12, 2011 4:23 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I agree with AD that we are not (and IMO should not) going to trade Staal. He is also one of the faces of the team although I would also include Skinner and Ward. Let’s put some talent around him and then make a decision if we are going to consider trading him.

by FoxtrotSierra on Nov 11, 2011 10:47 AM EST up reply actions

I don’t see much benefit in trading Staal unless it would net us something huge, and I mean HUGE. I know he’s going through a rough stretch but he’s much more than a complimentary player in my opinion. I think it’s the opposite – he’s an elite talent without the complimentary players. He’s absolutely carried this team on his back before and is about as clutch as you can be when it comes playoff time. I don’t think he’s the type of player that should be making the Ovechkin and Crosby money but that’s a different story.

About his leadership, I can’t say – I’ve heard fans say they don’t think he’s a real leader but I’m not saying anything about that considering I’m not in the locker room. I will say, ask his teammates and other players across the league and everyone has immense respect for him.

"I'm not going to waste my time with Tuukka Rask" - Cam Ward

by anonymousJ on Nov 11, 2011 1:52 AM EST reply actions

Just like the players really respect Maurice, blah, blah, blah………… He doesn’t get it done for the price it costs us thus we should try to get a few good consistent pieces to build on and let him be a complimentary player elsewhere. He doesn’t seem to have the ability to be a difference maker without a lot more talent around him. So, you either bite the bullet and surround him with lots more talent and he will likely reemerge or you trade him because you can’t really afford him meaning it seems to take more talent / salary because he seems to need more talent around him to thrive. If you can’t or won’t afford that additional talent why keep him here? This is not a knock on Eric Staal, I think he is a fine person and player.

by Canes Pucknut on Nov 11, 2011 9:21 AM EST up reply actions

If he were to be traded, it would be when he is tearing it up, not when he is streaking and -16.

by hurricane9 on Nov 11, 2011 9:41 AM EST reply actions

great wingers (as someone else recently pointed out) to help him score.

I was the one who pointed out Staal needed a “certain balance to his line.” I never said Staal needs “great wingers.” While I think Erik Cole and Cory Stillman are good players, I would never consider them great.

Cole is a 50 point player in his career. Look at his lowest PPG averages in the NHL. His lowest is this season (still early I know) at 0.33 PPG. His next lowest is his injury year of 09/10 at 0.40 PPG, he only played 40 games that season. After that was his stint in Edmonton where he average 0.43 PPG. And look what happened when he was reunited with Staal, he averaged 0.88 PPG. Maybe it can be argued that Staal makes Cole better.

Stillman has been a solid player pretty much over his career. But if you look at his PPG averages per team, Carolina is the 2nd best at 0.82 PPG. 1st is the one year he spent in Tampa; surrounded by talented players like St. Louis, LeCavalier, Richards, and Boyle. You could also argue that Staal helped Stillman out just as much as Stillman helped Staal.

Trading Staal would be a bad decision IMO for the franchise. There is no doubt he is in a funk and he needs to figure out a way to get out of it, but he is a superb talent that is not easily replaced. To me it is almost insulting that the Canes don’t put together a better roster for Staal & Ward while they are in/entering the primes of their careers. While Skinner is great & will should only get better, Staal is the only guy on the roster that has proven he can carry this team on his back for a lengthy amount of time. He has proven to be a difference maker in the past and I believe he will do it again in the future.

It's time for change! "If you want to change the culture, you will have to start by changing the organization." - Mary Douglas

by PackPride17 on Nov 11, 2011 9:53 AM EST reply actions

Yes I agree!

Trading Staal would be a terrible move.

I think Staal has made Cole better. He is a 3rd line guy when he heads to another team. He sees some time on the 2nd line but was/is used mostly as a 3rd line guy in Edmonton and Montreal.

I also think its insulting that they don’t get them better supporting cast entering their prime. We should be in Cup talks for the next 4 years.. but not likely as we are a few top 6 forwards away.

by RobbinDollar on Nov 11, 2011 2:13 PM EST up reply actions

Cole and Stillman were great for Staal. That’s what I meant.

by prplmnkydw on Nov 11, 2011 3:05 PM EST up reply actions

Who are you going to trade Staal for?

Who out there would come in a make such a huge difference? Would Joe Thornton come in & produce an 80 point season with Chad LaRose on his right side. Would Rick Nash be so much better in Carolina than he is in Columbus?

I mean almost every top-notch player in the league has a playing partner that is pretty damn good. Look at the Sedin’s, Stamkos has LeCavalier & St. Louis, Giroux has a very talented roster; most top players have somebody else helping them out. That’s not necessarily the case with Staal. So who would come in a make such a difference?

It's time for change! "If you want to change the culture, you will have to start by changing the organization." - Mary Douglas

by PackPride17 on Nov 11, 2011 10:19 AM EST reply actions

Who are you going to trade Staal for?

Yes that is the best question for this post!

Who would we get? Most players that we could get would probably produce less.

Be happy! We have a stud on our team. Blame management for his lack of points. He is a 100 point player but he needs support on his line. Nobody does it alone, every guy in the top 10 in points last year has a few top Line mates.

Staal is not the problem. The Grass isnt always greener!

by RobbinDollar on Nov 11, 2011 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

But he isnt a 100 point player. His career average is a good bit lower.

by prplmnkydw on Nov 11, 2011 3:03 PM EST up reply actions

Speculation about his leadership ability with only the viewpoint of an interested fan is just that, speculation. Someday his teammates may speak to that point till then it will an unknown; like so many of parts of the multiple puzzles of this seasons start.
A trade could fall into one of 2 categories. Salary dump for prospects and potential as part of a rebuild usually best done near the trade deadline. Or, a swap for another highly paid underperforming player sooner. Ladd for Ruutu worked, but at the $8mill level options are slim at best.
My key puzzle re: Staal is why can’t those in command can’t identify the style of play that best compliments him. We may be at the end of the LaRose 13 game experiment to try something different Maybe a new 13 game experiment begins Friday. Looks like the management is as perplexed as we are of how to complement our NHL all star..

by surgalt on Nov 11, 2011 10:56 AM EST reply actions

Give Skinner the C,

that’ll wake him up.

by Cincinnati Reds on Nov 11, 2011 2:37 PM EST reply actions

Staal should keep the C

I sympathize with a lot of the frustration I am seeing. I have followed the Whalers/Hurricanes since June of 1978 and find myself there as well. Taking the “C” from Staal and giving it to Skinner would be a mistake. Given the right circumstances, Skinner could develop into a truly great player, but Staal is the leader of the club. What Eric Staal needs right now are some wing-men who, as has been outlined, complement his strengths. He also needs the support of the fans and the team. As much as the inconsistent play and losses frustrate me; it is important for us to get behind the ’Canes and encourage management to help find a better fit for our Captain.

by Axiius on Nov 15, 2011 4:24 PM EST up reply actions

Trade ideas

My realistic trade target might be Rick Nash. My unrealistic trade target would be Malkin.

I really envision this as a “change of scenery” trade that might kickstart stalled careers. From the Canes perspective, it would obviously be part of a major shake-up (more trades, Mo out, etc).

by prplmnkydw on Nov 11, 2011 3:05 PM EST reply actions

Don’t get me wrong, Nash is a hell of a player; but I would take Staal over Nash 9 times out of 10. Nash can score some goals, but Staal has pretty much outdone him there every season. Staal also gets more total points than Nash. I would even go as far to say Staal is much more a complete player than Nash. Any the argument in Columbus is that Nash hasn’t had a playmaking center to set him up. We really don’t have that either.

Malkin on the other hand, that could be a trade that works out for both teams. Malkin is the better player, but you never know what you are going to get with him. You also have to worry about injury concerns with Malkin. When healthy, he is a top 5 player no doubt; but how long will he be healthy. E Staal on Pittsburgh could either be a 2nd line center or top line winger with Crosby. You would probably see E Staal return to 100 point status if on that team. I honestly would rather have E Staal than Malkin, simply for the fact I know he will play most if not all the season.

It's time for change! "If you want to change the culture, you will have to start by changing the organization." - Mary Douglas

by PackPride17 on Nov 11, 2011 3:58 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Malkin is also a Russian, and too many Russian players seem to reach a point where they don’t care anymore. Big danger.

Obviously Nash would not be complete without a real play-maker, but then again, neither is Staal. Like I said, this is my “something that might actually be possible” scenario, i.e. underachieving first liners swapped.

by prplmnkydw on Nov 12, 2011 4:26 PM EST up reply actions