Carolina Hurricanes Trade Eric Staal to New York Rangers for Prospect and Picks

(photo credit: yahoosports.com)

The Carolina Hurricanes dealt their captain, Eric Staal to the New York Rangers on Sunday afternoon a day before Monday’s 3:00 PM trading deadline in the National Hockey League.

Staal’s tenure in Raleigh ends after 12 years as the Hurricanes sent him to the Rangers in exchange for their second round pick in the 2016 and 2017 NHL Entry Draft and forward Aleksi Saarela. 

Staal’s 10 goals and 33 points in 63 games in the 2015-2016 season out him on pace for his lowest points total since his rookie season back in 2003-2004. Rangers General Manager, Jeff Gorton feels the former number two overall pick in the 2003 entry draft will help spark the Blueshirts towards a deep run in the 2015-2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

The five time 30 goal scorer has 322 goals and 775 points in 909 regular season games with the Hurricanes and 19 goals and 43 points in 43 post season games, leading the Canes to a Stanley Cup Championship in 2006. 

Staal, will become an Unrestricted Free Agent when his seven year, 57.75 million-dollar contract ends on July 1, 2016. Only Hurricanes’ General Manager, Ron Francis, has more goals, assists and points in Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes history. 

Francis released a statement saying “Eric has been the face of this franchise for a long time, and we thank him for his dedication, leadership and many contributions on and off the ice.” He added, “We felt that this was an important opportunity for us to continue our work in building an organization that can consistently compete in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.”

Saarela was selected by the Rangers in the third round, number 89 overall, of the 2015 entry draft. In 46 games with Assat of the Finnish Elite League, he has 18 goals and 31 points. He also won a gold medal while playing for Finland in the 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships. 

After playing in Carolina with brother Jordan, the last three seasons, he is expected to join brother, Marc in New York on Monday as he dons his number 12 for the Rangers when they will host the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden.  

The Hurricanes will retain 50 percent of Staal’s contract and salary cap hit.