Pittsburgh Penguins: Looking Ahead to 2016 Trade Targets
By Mike Necciai
. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Eric Staal – Carolina Hurricanes
Staal is going to be a very intriguing name to watch this season, as he and Carolina Hurricanes GM Ron Francis are reportedly worlds apart in contract negotiations.
Many have wondered if the Eric Staal era was coming to an end in Carolina and it’s becoming more and more likely by the day. The longer Staal remains unsigned, the longer the speculation will build, which means a must-watch storyline as the upcoming trade deadline approaches. Of course, moving a high-profile player like Staal is never easy.
First, there’s Staal’s no-trade clause that could be an obstacle, as he would have to approve any deal that takes place. Second, the return Ron Francis will want for Staal may outweigh what teams are willing to forfeit for a rental, even if it is a rental of his caliber.
Despite those challenges, I look for there to be a market for the star forward if it does indeed come down to trading him. Will the Staal brothers be separated once again?
Next: Dan Hamhuis