Eric Staal didn’t get moved by the Minnesota Wild today despite being an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and now we know why. Bob McKenzie of TSN reports that Staal has signed a two-year extension with the Wild that will carry a $3.25MM average annual value. That will actually represent a slight reduction in average salary for Staal, who is in the last season of a three-year $10.5MM deal.
A $6.5MM guarantee for Staal immediately strikes as an extremely team-friendly deal, given that he recorded 42 goals during the 2017-18 season. Though that number has come down this year, Staal is still likely to finish as a 50+ point center this season. There were several reports of teams showing interest in Staal over the last few days, but the veteran forward had expressed his desire to stay in Minnesota. The new contract will include a modified no-trade clause.
Even at the reasonable price however, this contract does seem at odds with what the Wild have done over the last few weeks. GM Paul Fenton has made it clear he intends on changing the makeup of the team, trading Nino Niederreiter, Charlie Coyle and today Mikael Granlund. In each move Fenton has brought back a relatively young forward, but the team now looks like it might be heading towards more of a retooling period than one of real Stanley Cup contention. Even in a down year Staal likely could have brought back a substantial return on the trade market, especially when looking at the packages brought back by other centers like Kevin Hayes and Matt Duchene.
Staal ranked #19 among our Midseason UFA Power Rankings, but now won’t have to deal with the process that took him to Minnesota in the first place. The former Stanley Cup Champion with the Carolina Hurricanes is closing in on 1,000 career points and should get there with the Wild next season.
The question is why, this is now a rebuilding team, Staal is not a piece for a rebuilding team.
Thats a steal
Wow, that’s a good deal for the Wild.
Staal had said he really, really likes it here… guess he wasn’t kidding. I wonder if he took a lowball deal to get himself off the trading block. Glad to have him, anyway.
His line mates are gone
His first contract was a steal. This one too. I wonder why he’s taking such a discount to stay in Minny? He’d easily fetch $5 million on the open market.
If he and his family likes it there I can see why he would take less to stay I guess. If he is married that is. Maybe she told him to take less to stay too.
Glad he’s playing hard after winning a cup early in his career. Unlike the stiff out here in Anaheim.
Noice. I’m half hard
It is refreshing to see a talented player prioritize quality of life over money. Great deal for the wild too.
Good deal regardless of the impending rebuild. Rebuilds don’t usually happen in a year so having a veteran around is always a welcome presence in the locker room even if for a year or two. And if there weren’t any offers to Minnesota’s liking, it doesn’t make sense to get rid of him just for the sake of getting something back especially since he had interest in staying. He probably agreed to take a little less than what he could’ve gotten to stay in Minnesota. One potential bonus of this deal is the low AAV. $3.25m isn’t likely going to be that restrictive on Minnesota’s cap and if Staal wants to try and chase another cup, he’s at a managable salary for another team to absorb.