With the NHL trade deadline just a day away, the New York Rangers made a statement move on Sunday. New York was able to acquire center Eric Staal from the Carolina Hurricanes for two draft picks and a prospect.
Staal waived his no-trade clause in his contract to make the move happen, this after spending his entire 12-year career with Carolina. He is in the final season of his seven-year, $55.75 million contract, making him an unrestricted free agent this summer.
With the Hurricanes retaining a portion of their former captain's $8.25 million cap, the Rangers still have enough financial room to acquire another "small-salary player if we wanted to" according to GM Jeff Gorton.
The Canes were expected to be sellers come Monday's deadline, but made a push for their playoff spot since 2009. That hope went out the door after losing four of six heading into Sunday's loss against the Blues.
New York sits at 36-20-6 this season, 16 points behind the NHL's best Washington Capitals in the Metropolitan Division. The 31-year-old Staal leaves his little brother, Jordan, in Carolina, joining another brother, Marc, in New York.
The veteran has scored 30+ goals five different times in his career, but has just 10 goals and 23 assists in 63 games this season. The four-time All-Star leads the Hurricanes in nearly every category, including 909 games played, 332 goals, and 775 points. He will now bring those numbers to the Rangers, helping them down the stretch in an attempt to play in June yet again.
Staal waived his no-trade clause in his contract to make the move happen, this after spending his entire 12-year career with Carolina. He is in the final season of his seven-year, $55.75 million contract, making him an unrestricted free agent this summer.
With the Hurricanes retaining a portion of their former captain's $8.25 million cap, the Rangers still have enough financial room to acquire another "small-salary player if we wanted to" according to GM Jeff Gorton.
The Canes were expected to be sellers come Monday's deadline, but made a push for their playoff spot since 2009. That hope went out the door after losing four of six heading into Sunday's loss against the Blues.
New York sits at 36-20-6 this season, 16 points behind the NHL's best Washington Capitals in the Metropolitan Division. The 31-year-old Staal leaves his little brother, Jordan, in Carolina, joining another brother, Marc, in New York.
The veteran has scored 30+ goals five different times in his career, but has just 10 goals and 23 assists in 63 games this season. The four-time All-Star leads the Hurricanes in nearly every category, including 909 games played, 332 goals, and 775 points. He will now bring those numbers to the Rangers, helping them down the stretch in an attempt to play in June yet again.
