The Carolina Hurricanes didn't come into the 2014-15 season with particularly high expectations. But a number of injuries have further deepened the gloom surrounding this team and their hopes for the season.
With the team operating under a new regime, many are starting to wonder if it isn't in the best interest of the team - and possibly already in the works - for the organization to start cleaning house, possibly starting with captain and four-time All-Star, Eric Staal, the Toronto Sun reports.
TSN NHL Insider Darren Dreger had this to say during the second intermission of last night's Hurricanes game: "The Maple Leafs would be at the top of list of teams most interested and willing to be aggressive in terms of making a deal. Would be a "monumental package" if they are going to trade him. These types of trades always start with a first round pick and good key young prospects like Jake Gardiner and Nazem Kadri. Staal makes $8.25 million this year and next, so the Leafs may want to work out some sort of extension. There is a long road to get to that stage though. The Hurricanes moving Staal this year is a "long shot at best". The Leafs will continue to kick tires, and there has been some dialogue, most recently in the summer. Staal would have to want to waive his clause. The Hurricanes would have to be in trouble. If a deal is going to happen, it's more likely to happen in the offseason," My NHL Trade Rumors reports.
New Hurricanes GM Ron Francis and head coach Bill Peters inherited Staal, his $8.25 million a year contract and the rest of the current roster from the previous regime. Word spread in the offseason that Staal had told his new bosses he would waive his contract's no-trade clause for a deal that would land him in Toronto with the Maple Leafs.
For Carolina, shipping out Staal would be a sure sign to fans that they're giving up on this season and entering a rebuild - a rebuild that could and most likely would take at the very least, a couple of years.
For Toronto, this trade would finally bring them the big, capable number one center they've desperately wanted and not seen since Mats Sundin 17 years ago - but at a price that would cost them picks and/or several very capable young players.
It is being reported that the two sides spoke at length about a possible deal in the offseason, with Toronto making a variety of trade offers. Nothing was to Carolina's liking though and so a deal was not consummated, according to NBC Sports.
The two sides also have reportedly not spoken since the season began.
Both franchises GMs, Francis in Carolina and Brendan Shanahan in Toronto, are in their first years on the job. Both have preached patience to their respective fan bases.
But Staal is a 6'4" scoring machine - having posted 90 and 100 point seasons previously in his career - and would give this Toronto team a serious presence to pair with Tyler Bozak - assuming Carolina doesn't ask for Bozak as part of the trade package - and instantly upgrade the center of their lineup.
Any deal would almost assuredly start with a first-round pick heading to Carolina, along with at least one to two young-but-talented and still blossoming players.
As noted by Dreger, possibilities for the Leafs to part with include center Nazem Kadri and defenseman Jake Gardiner. Gardiner has been a healthy scratch of late and Kadri just can't seem to find a stable home in the Leafs lineup.
Things are reportedly quiet at the moment, but as Carolina's season unravels look for Toronto to continue to monitor Staal's situation and possibly rekindle negotiations sometime in the near future.
