The Carolina Hurricanes have traded Eric Staal to the New York Rangers for two 2nd round picks and Finnish prospect Aleksi Saarela.
Elliotte Friedman: The Hurricanes will retain 50 percent of his contract.
General Fanager: “So the #Canes and #Rangers will split the remaining $2,094,086 owed to Eric Staal. $1,047,043 for each side.”
The 31-year old Staal was drafted 2nd overall in the 2003 draft by the Hurricanes. He carries a $8.25 million salary cap hit.
The 19-year old Saarela was drafted 89th overall in the 3rd round of the 2015 draft by the Rangers.
The #Rangers Cap situation after acquiring Staal
Projected Space: $5,858
Deadline Space: $27,240 pic.twitter.com/J8C5XeRFKW— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) February 28, 2016
Thoughts from the media:
Renaud Lavoie: “Obviously Hurricanes wanted more for Eric Staal. Fact that Staal wanted to play only for the NYR, if traded, didn’t help.”
Andy Strickland: “Eric Staal a big name but his play has been less than desired, one goal in 19 games. Leads #NHLcanes forwards in ice time. Very unimpressive”
Craig Button: ” Aleksi Saarela is a very good prospect. High IQ, makes plays. Quick & plays & executes at high pace. Versatile. Competes.”
Mike Halford: “Saarela’s had a really good year in Finland at age 19, so his stock is probably higher than a 3rd-rounder now.”
Miika Arponen: “Saarela is 10th in the Finnish Liiga in goals/60 min. Two spots behind fellow Canes prospect Aho. ”
Joe Yerdon: “Aleksi Saarela looked like a pretty solid player in Lake Placid last summer and at WJC. He and Sebastian Aho gives CAR a Finnish duo punch.”
Joe Haggerty: “That’s a haul for an Eric Staal well on the back nine. 2 second round picks and a prospect? Great trade market for selling teams”
David Johnson: “I’ll be curious to see if Staal’s offensive production returns going to a team that isn’t a puck-possession focused team.”
David Johnson: “Eric Staal’s 5v5 offensive production is surprisingly bad this year.”
Anthony Petrielli: “It wouldn’t be a trade deadline if the Rangers didn’t acquire an aging star who is past his prime and would only waive his NTC to go there.”
Eric Staal
Aleksi Saarela
