[Signing] Wild sign E. Staal (3yrs, $3.5mil AAV)

[Fire]

Not a bad contract but if Eric Staal keeps declining even this deal will look bad in a year.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Great signing by the Wild.

Why the Flames couldn't do this - Eric Staal would only go to a team where he could play center. Flames would have to promise him that Bennett would be on the wing. Given that, I am not sure I would love this signing for the Flames.

Great signing for a team that has room at center though. Definitely a low risk deal, and even if Staal doesn't approach the numbers he once has (and I don't think anyone expects him to) he is still a valuable player worth a pretty penny more IMO.

[puffnstuff]

Better than trading for RNH thats for sure.

[CASe333]

Pretty crazy to think that Eric Staal is a reclamation project but that's what the message this contract sends given the whole league got to kick his tire.

[Jay Random]

61, 54, 39 points the last 3 seasons. Not so much a reclamation project, he just hasn't been worth $8m+ for several years now.

[Philly06Cup]

He's also had the worst support in Carolina. Mostly played with Kris Versteeg, Elias Lindholm, but also spending time with Victor Rask, Chris Terry, Nathan Gerbe, Riley Nash... Really a terrible group of teammates. Sucks to be the captain and face of that franchise. I like his chances of turning things around in Minnesota, and am shocked no other GM sees more value in him.