Eric Staal could nix a trade to Canadian contender
The Buffalo Sabres continue to freefall in the MassMutual East division standings, and are currently in the midst of a nine-game losing streak. Earlier this week, The Fourth Period reported that Sabres forward Eric Staal is expected to leave Buffalo prior to the April 12th trade deadline.
While on TSN690 radio in Montreal on Saturday morning, David Pagnotta revealed that it's unlikely we see Staal come north of the border, with quarantine issues being the main concern.
"I'm led to believe that Eric Staal's 10-team no trade list includes CDN contenders, and that he doesn't want to quarantine for 2 weeks... going from a U.S. team to a Canadian team.... Things could change," Pagnotta said.
From @TheFourthPeriod on @TSN690 just now - "I'm led to believe that Eric Staal's 10-team no trade list includes CDN contenders, and that he doesn't want to quanrantine for 2 weeks... going from a U.S. team to a Canadian team.... Things could change."— Matthew Ross 🎙️✍️🇨🇦 (@MatthewWords) March 13, 2021
One team that is believed to be interested in Staal is his former club, the Carolina Hurricanes, where he was drafted back in 2003, and spent the first eleven and a half years. Staal won the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in his sophomore year in 2006, and was named captain of the team in 2009, wearing the "C" until he was traded to the New York Rangers in 2016.
Pierre LeBrun mentioned the Hurricanes' interest in a reunion with Staal on Friday's edition of Insider Trading. LeBrun added that a Canadian team could make a push for Staal, but that doesn't appear to be the case given David Pagnotta's report on Saturday morning.
"There is a chance, and the Caronia Hurricanes this past week have discussed the possibility of this," LeBrun said on Friday's Insider Trading. "I wouldn't say it's a top-of-the-agenda item, but what I'm told is the Hurricanes have talked about, 'Hey, if Eric Staal is still on the Buffalo roster closer to April 12, maybe we give the Sabres a call and see what it would take to bring him back here to Carolina.' It's a storyline that I think a lot of people can get behind."
"But, in the meantime, there could be a Canadian team or two that makes a push for Eric Staal before that. And that would put Kevyn Adams and the Buffalo Sabres in a position; do you take your best deal a couple weeks out, or do you think it gets better with Carolina closer to April 12?" LeBrun said.
In 25 games this season, Staal has 10 points (3 G, 7 A), 4 penalty minutes, and is a -14.
Source: Insider Trading (Staal/Hurricanes)
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Conor Garland | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Dylan Guenther | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Nick Schmaltz | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Jake Debrusk | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jack McBain | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Alex Newhook | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Mikhail Sergachev | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jayden Struble | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Cole Caufield | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Logan Cooley | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Christian Dvorak | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Barrett Hayton | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Quinn Hughes | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Clayton Keller | - | 1 | 1 | |
| David Savard | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Pius Suter | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Arber Xhekaj | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Anderson | - | - | - | |
| Joel Armia | - | - | - | |
| Arshdeep Bains | - | - | - | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 22 | 18 | 4 | - | 36 | |
Devils | 24 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 32 | |
Hurricanes | 21 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 31 | |
Wild | 21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 30 | |
Golden Knights | 22 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 30 | |
Capitals | 21 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 29 | |
Maple Leafs | 21 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 28 | |
Flames | 22 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 27 | |
Stars | 20 | 13 | 7 | - | 26 | |
Rangers | 20 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 25 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||