- Hope Smoke: Darren Dreger on TSN Radio: “They’d be keenly interested because they have been in the past.” … “Conversations took place in the summer certainly before Francis took over for Rutherford.” … “‘Toronto has coveted a top line C and many believe E.Staal has a lot left in the tank.” … “Edmonton would immediately come to mind as another team but is E.Staal going to waive to go to Edmonton?” … “I think the Rangers . They’re an easy answer because they’re always involved in these deals”
- Hope Smoke: Bob McKenzie on TSN Radio: “I think the Leafs probably tested the waters on this one in the summer.” … “Even though we jump to the conclusion that there is a derby between Buf & Car for McDavid, E.Staal doesn’t view it that way.” … ” wants this to play out a little longer. He’s committed to playing for the Hurricanes and playing with his brother.” … “I think he really likes the way things are unfolding with Bill Peters.”
- Nichols on Hockey: Darren Dreger on NHL Live on Eric Staal trade talk.
“The Toronto Maple Leafs inquired, again, based on speculation, as to whether or not Eric Staal would be available during the summer. And there was some dialog back and forth. Clearly Dave Nonis identifying they’d be willing to pay a price to acquire Eric Staal. I mean, who wouldn’t want a big center who’s won a Stanley Cup championship in the lineup. But at that point, there wasn’t a lot of interest in that negotiation.
“This is a story that has just somewhat resurfaced. But it’s littered with ‘ifs’ and the top of the list is if Eric Staal wants to leave. If he doesn’t want to leave, then there’s not going to be a deal in-season. And I don’t think there will be a deal in-season. Perhaps in the off-season at best.”
- Nichols on Hockey: Pierre LeBrun on TSN 1050 Radio talking about Eric Staal.
“And that part, of course, is 100 percent accurate. That’s his info that he got through his sources through the Leafs. But the ‘if’ part was clearly established to the point where even Bobby and I both have talked about the fact that as far as we know, Eric Staal doesn’t want to go anywhere. Bobby talked about Eric Staal’s desire to stay in Carolina via his no-movement clause and I can tell you that talking to a Hurricanes source last night after this report came out, he said ‘Hey, that’s pretty much the last guy we want to trade.’
“Now, that what he says now. Let’s see after what appears to be probably what’ll be a long year Hurricanes how they feel next summer and I think there’s financial pressure on that team. The team is for sale, by the way. So there are some interesting factors. But as far as part of the equation which is ‘if’ Carolina ever wants to trade Eric Staal, right now that ‘if’ part is – the answer is no.”
“Right. Precisely. So a lot of this – and you can’t skirt the part whether Eric Staal himself would ever want to leave Carolina. You just do not get the feeling at all that’s even in his mind at this point. Again, this may be a year like no others for him in terms of the lack of success this team looks like they’re going to have this year. But him and Jordan, his brother, are together in Carolina. And that was the plan. And that’s what they want to do for the rest of their careers. So that’s something that you can’t discount at this stage.
“And the other thing too Bryan, and there’s no question the Leafs would get in there hard if he was ever made available, but they wouldn’t be alone. There are other teams with other assets that would definitely inquire. It’s just so rare for centers of this level to become available, although I guess the Dallas Stars try to get one every year. But other than Jim Nill, for every other GM in the league, it’s almost impossible to get these guys in their prime and so the Leafs would face competition from other teams and it obviously depends on the kind of wish list that Eric Staal would ever want to establish through his agent. All these things have to play out and I don’t think any of them are in the short term here.”