TSN’s Insider Trading: Darren Dreger: The asking price for Eric Staal would be enormous. The Leafs and Hurricanes have talked in the past. Would cost them a first round pick, either Tyler Bozak or Nazem Kadri and likely Jake Gardiner. Dreger thinks the Leafs would pay that.Bob McKenzie: Staal likes playing with his brother and has a no-movement clause. A trade would only happen if he wants it to happen. Sames goes for Jordan Staal and Cam Ward.
Darren Dreger during the second intermission last night on Hurricanes Eric Staal: The Maple Leafs would be at the top of list of teams most interested and willing to be aggressive in terms of making a deal. Would be a “monumental package” if they are going to trade him. These types of trades always start with a first round pick and good key young prospects like Jake Gardiner and Nazem Kadri. Staal makes $8.25 million this year and next, so the Leafs may want to work out some sort of extension. There is a long road to get to that stage though. The Hurricanes moving Staal this year is a “long shot at best”. The Leafs will continue to kick tires, and there has been some dialogue, most recently in the summer. Staal would have to want to waive his clause. The Hurricanes would have to be in trouble. If a deal is going to happen, it’s more likely to happen in the offseason.
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: Simmons says that Eric Staal is “apparently willing to waive his no-trade arrangement for a deal that would land him with the Maple Leafs.” Are the Hurricanes at the point where they would consider trading him? A source who is close to the Maple Leafs front office on how serious to take the Staal to Leafs trade talk: “Right now, not very.” The Leafs haven’t had any trade talk with the Hurricanes since the season started. A number of teams would be interested in Staal if he became available. The more Jake Gardiner doesn’t play, the more you have wonder if they would consider trading him. The Leafs could offer Kadri and Gardiner. The Hurricanes would want a first round pick, but along with Kadri and Gardiner, it would be too much for Staal.
