Hurricanes trade captain Eric Staal to New York Rangers

He had 10 goals in 63 games before being traded to the New York Rangers for two second-round draft picks and Finnish prospect Aleksi Saarela.

Video: How does Eric Staal fit into the Rangers lineup? He has a track record of producing in the playoffs, and the Rangers are hoping the chance of winning a Cup elevates Staal’s game back to an elite level.

Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton said the Hurricanes retained a portion of Staal’s $8.25 million salary-cap hit, and NY has enough financial flexibility to add another “small-salary player if we wanted to”. “But even if he wasn’t here, this is still a great spot for me at this moment in my career”. His 0.52 points per-game are his lowest since his first full season in the National Hockey League, which came in 2003-04.

“Could the 6’4”, 205-pounder get more aggressive in the crease, be stronger on the puck and hustle more on defense?

The Rangers made the Eastern Conference Final last season and have 78 points on the year – tied for second-most in the East. Two years ago they made the Stanley Cup Final.

At the centre of that conundrum would be captain Eric Staal, set to be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

Family first, and hopefully the Stanley Cup second. The spectacular collapse – Toronto managed just six wins in its final 20 games – caused the former Leafs GM to consider implementing a roster freeze that would kick in a week before the actual deadline, because of “how distracting it is”. By March 1, Staal can relax and go about his business as usual, whether it is in Carolina or another city. “There were a lot of trying times and for a lot of different reasons it didn’t happen”.

“For me it was time for this opportunity and this chance. I’m just excited for this, getting on the ice and playing my game”.

Staal has scored 30-plus goals five times in his career. He hasn’t notched near a point per-game since the 2012-13 season when he had 53 points in 48 games played. Staal is the type of rental player who a team that thinks it’s one piece away from the Stanley Cup could use. Since then, though, they’ve gotten back on track, going 9-3-1 since the All-Star break. That might be wishful thinking on the part of the Rangers, but they didn’t give up much, at least nothing that will help them win in the next few years.

Staal, 31, will join his brother Marc Staal in NY. Eric spent two-plus seasons in Carolina with third-oldest brother, center Jordan Staal. He was in the Hurricanes organization. “And that’s why we made the move”. “I know he wants to be a part of that”.

Eric Staal has a new home.

The trade craziness has begun New York Rangers fans.

“This group has played some really good hockey from December to this point, and they’re working hard, and you never want to have to do this”, Francis said.

By all accounts, Staal is an upstanding guy, a worthy person to have worn a captain’s C for as long as he did with the Carolina Hurricanes.

“I feel thankful that Eric was willing to waive the no-move”. The 32-year-old left wing would be a solid depth scorer for any team, playing on any of the top three lines.