This And That: Brendan Woods, Clark Bishop, And More

There is a bit of followup to report on the Eric Staal situation that we talked about this past week.  Mike Maniscalco contacted Ron Francis and got his information directly from the source.

In his most recent article on WRAL.com, Maniscalco states that while there are no "formal negotiations" ongoing between Francis and Rick Curran, Staal's agent, there are discussions between the parties.

The following is from Maniscalco's article:

The thought being circulated the loudest is that both parties need a deal done before the start of the season or else it is best to part ways, but that isn’t the case. So if neither side has expressed interest in a trade, are there contract extension talks between the parties?

Francis did tell me he's had conversations with Staal's agent Rick Curran. "(We) walked him through what we think of Eric and he has walked us through about where they see Eric’s value to the organization," Francis said.

That would not be classified as a formal negotiation; but both sides have not changed where they stood at the end of the season.

Also from Mike:

Another important thing to remember is that any trade or contract extension does not have to happen this offseason. In fact, Staal’s value could increase during the season if the Hurricanes are out of the playoff picture again and an extension has not materialized. Staal could command a bigger return at the NHL trade deadline from a team in need. If nothing happens on either front during the upcoming season, the Hurricanes hold Staal’s rights until June 30, 2016.

While Francis is not actively seeking a trade regarding the Captain, he's not ruling out the possibility either.  It seems that he might be in agreement with my earlier thoughts on the subject.

Check out the Mike's complete article here:

Eric Staal trade rumors offseason tradition

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In other news, Carolina Hurricanes 5th round pick from the 2012 Entry Draft, Brendan Woods, was recently interviewed by Tim Leone, beat writer for the Hershey Bears.

Woods, who is coming off a productive season with the Charlotte Checkers (13G-17A-30P) and who made a two game debut with the big club last December, is looking to make the Canes right out of training camp this coming fall.

Brendan Woods also played Dec. 27 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. His 2014-15 NHL game total count stopped at two.

"Now I want to get there and stick and stay," Brendan Woods said, "and be an all-time player rather than just a call-up."

Woods went on.

"I know they have some spots open," Brendan Woods said. "I'm trying to have the mindset this summer that I'm making the team going into camp."

The Canes can certainly use his size and physical nature in the lineup.  (He's listed at 6'4 and 210.)  We will see what happens this training camp.

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Finally, to followup on Kyle's report last week, there was another recent article about Carolina prospect, Clark Bishop.  Bishop was drafted last year in the fifth round and is playing for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.

After a fast start at almost a point a game pace, he sprained his ankle badly in December and had a real rough time getting healthy again.

"I’ve since found out they’re really tough to heal and to this day it’s still not 100 per cent," admits Bishop, a Carolina Hurricanes’ prospect drafted last June.

If he had known then what he knows now, Bishop might not have returned to the ice four weeks after the injury, only to go down again. In a game against the Saint John Sea Dogs, one shift after scoring a goal, Bishop fell awkwardly into the boards and re-injured the same ankle forcing him out of action for another five weeks.

Serving as team captain, Bishop traveled with the team even though he was injured.  After leading his team in scoring in the playoffs, he's back to working out now and looks forward to returning to Raleigh for Prospect Camp in early July.

Back in St. John’s and training with a group of fellow Q-leaguers under Bob Thompson, Bishop will head to Raleigh, N.C. in early July for the Hurricane’s development camp. But he seems content to gain another year of major junior seasoning before he’s ready to turn pro.

"I think it’s best for me to play another year in junior and then try to work my way into the AHL for a couple of years."

Perhaps he could be another diamond in the rough?

The entire article is here.