The Carolina Hurricanes are one of the worst teams in the NHL and as a result are one of the clubs who are definitively sellers this season. One name which has popped up a few times in various trade rumors is captain Eric Staal, but Staal’s no-trade clause makes even the most solid of rumors seem speculative. Would Staal waive his no-trade clause? According to Sportsnet.ca, probably not.
The report states that Staal hopes to remain with the Hurricanes and won’t waive his no-trade clause. We’ll have to wait and see if Staal’s resolve holds should a contender come calling, but for now his desire is to remain in Carolina.
It’s worth noting that Staal is not the easiest player to trade. The 30-year-old forward still packs plenty of offensive punch even on the lowly Hurricanes, but he’s one of the most expensive trade targets out on the market. Staal carries a cap hit of $8.25 million both in 2014-15 and in 2015-16, but his actual base salary checks in at $9.25 million in 2014-15 (obviously pro-rated in a trade) and then it climbs to $9.5 million next year. Contenders may splash out some money for a rental, but it’s doubtful they’ll want to be on the hook for almost $10 million next season.
