from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,
It’s clear Staal doesn’t want to leave the only NHL team he’s ever played for, and he controls his fate via a no-movement clause. So that’s the first thing that matters here.
Having said that, at some point over the next month or so you have to imagine Carolina general manager Ron Francis will likely sit down with Staal to discuss the future of the franchise and how the captain fits into that. Does he want to stick around for a rebuild?
Keep in mind, Staal’s family loves it in Carolina, and he’s already won a Stanley Cup. He doesn’t have to leave to go chase a championship ring. He’s got one. Don’t underestimate that factor.
But I think one of the reasons Staal couldn’t come out Monday and just totally slam the door on the subject of a trade, given his no-movement clause, is because of this: how would he react if he gets the feeling that the franchise wants to recoup assets for him in their efforts to go younger?
Again, we’re not saying Francis is even thinking about that. But I think you can’t totally discount it. The Hurricanes are 28th in the NHL standings. The first-year Hurricanes GM was charged with making this team better.
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