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| Original artwork done by Evil Shero Follow him on Twitter @Evil_Shero |
#Staalwatch has been sweeping the Internet with rumors and guesses as to what is going to happen to Staal's career in Pittsburgh.
The rumors first started a couple weeks ago when Alan Robinson tweeted the following :
Alan Robinson @alanrobinson22
"Have heard from multiple people Staal not content to remain in current role much longer. He could be No 1 center in a lot of cities."
Mr. Robinson knows his stuff trust me and he's dead on with what he said. Staal is good enough to be a number 2 center on every team in the NHL, and could be a number 1 center on a few teams in the league. Take Columbus for example.
A little later after that Mark Madden and a few other Pittsburgh sports media members reported that Staal was not unhappy in Pittsburgh, just that he wanted a larger role with the team. Then again, even Madden doesn't even know what the Hell is going on. Rumors are just that, rumors. Staal doesn't come off as a diva in anyway, most hockey players aren't.
If I'm Staal, I'm not content with being a third-line center for the rest of my career. Staal is 24 years old, and is growing into a very good NHL center. Staal has proven he can be effective in his current role. Staal has also shown signs of being a potential number one center.
Since then it seems like every day I wake up there's a new rumor about Staal. First we heard that the Edmonton Oilers were very interested in Staal. Reports were that they would be willing to trade the number one overall pick in this year's draft for Staal. That would have meant the Pens would have been able to draft top prospect Nail Yakupov, who's a BEAST.
This rumor has been debunked in the last week for numerous reasons. One, the NHL has no idea what the state of the CBA is. So before you start spouting off trade rumors please don't act like you know more than people involved in the NHL. Two, the Oilers would have to negotiate with Staal about a contract extension before the draft, and then would have to draft the player that the Pens would want, then trade after July 1st.
In other words, that rumor was dead before it even got going.
The new rumor has been Staal going to play with two of his brothers, Eric in Carolina. What a story that would be! Staal going to Carolina could actually benefit both teams, not going to lie. Jordan would get a chance to play with his older brother and have a bigger role on a team. The Pens could possibly get a guy like Jeff Skinner, and possibly the 8th overall pick in the NHL draft.
This is what Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford has said recently:
"What we're working on now is whatever it takes to get a top player, whether it's a center or a wing," Rutherford said. "Eric can play the wing. He has played the wing before and played there in the (2010) Olympics (for Canada). He has played very well on the wing."
Rutherford even hints that Eric Staal would possibly move wing. Staal and Staal on the same line? Gronk X 2. Good God! I don't think the hockey world is ready yet.
This all sounds great but again, nothing is going to happen right away. The CBA needs to get figured out by the league. Also, the Pens are not going to get a lot for Staal right now because he only has one year left on his contract.
A little later after that Mark Madden and a few other Pittsburgh sports media members reported that Staal was not unhappy in Pittsburgh, just that he wanted a larger role with the team. Then again, even Madden doesn't even know what the Hell is going on. Rumors are just that, rumors. Staal doesn't come off as a diva in anyway, most hockey players aren't.
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| Original Artwork down by Evil Shero Follow him on Twitter @Evil_Shero |
If I'm Staal, I'm not content with being a third-line center for the rest of my career. Staal is 24 years old, and is growing into a very good NHL center. Staal has proven he can be effective in his current role. Staal has also shown signs of being a potential number one center.
Since then it seems like every day I wake up there's a new rumor about Staal. First we heard that the Edmonton Oilers were very interested in Staal. Reports were that they would be willing to trade the number one overall pick in this year's draft for Staal. That would have meant the Pens would have been able to draft top prospect Nail Yakupov, who's a BEAST.
This rumor has been debunked in the last week for numerous reasons. One, the NHL has no idea what the state of the CBA is. So before you start spouting off trade rumors please don't act like you know more than people involved in the NHL. Two, the Oilers would have to negotiate with Staal about a contract extension before the draft, and then would have to draft the player that the Pens would want, then trade after July 1st.
In other words, that rumor was dead before it even got going.
The new rumor has been Staal going to play with two of his brothers, Eric in Carolina. What a story that would be! Staal going to Carolina could actually benefit both teams, not going to lie. Jordan would get a chance to play with his older brother and have a bigger role on a team. The Pens could possibly get a guy like Jeff Skinner, and possibly the 8th overall pick in the NHL draft.
This is what Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford has said recently:
"What we're working on now is whatever it takes to get a top player, whether it's a center or a wing," Rutherford said. "Eric can play the wing. He has played the wing before and played there in the (2010) Olympics (for Canada). He has played very well on the wing."
Rutherford even hints that Eric Staal would possibly move wing. Staal and Staal on the same line? Gronk X 2. Good God! I don't think the hockey world is ready yet.
This all sounds great but again, nothing is going to happen right away. The CBA needs to get figured out by the league. Also, the Pens are not going to get a lot for Staal right now because he only has one year left on his contract.
Worst case scenario for the Pens would be Staal playing next year and walking away for absolutely nothing. Staal and his agent might want to do that for a number of reasons.
-Staal would get the best contract by doing that, in terms of years and money. Staal is due $4.5 million by the Pens next season. He could get near $7 million on the open market.
_Staal would get to choose where what team he plays for. I mean, who wouldn't want that? Staal could choose a team based on contract, location, role, and who's on the team. JACKPOT.
_Pens would let one of their best draft picks of all-time walk away for nothing. As a Pens fan and a Staal fan this would break my damn heart.
But of the "big three" Staal would and should be first to go. Can't trade Crosby, he's the best player in the world and the face of the franchise. Can't trade Malkin because he's too much of a fan-favorite and too big of a talent.
Staal is going to be the odd-man out.
If Shero and the Pens can't re-sign Staal long-term, which is going to be hard to do if they have him behind Crosby, Malkin, and Letang on the priorities list, then he's going to have to trade him before his contract is up.
Best case scenario, Staal stays in Pittsburgh. Bonus scenario, Shero finds a way to move Paul Martin's nightmarish contract.
Until then enjoy all of the rumors and ridiculous trade proposals on the Internet.
Until then enjoy all of the rumors and ridiculous trade proposals on the Internet.
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