[Trade] Wild trade Eric Staal to Buffalo for Marcus Johansson

[Crown Royal]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Staal was bad.

and yet somehow still better than Johansson, while making less money

[TheScorpion]

Staal put up 111 goals and 240 points in his 311 games with the Wild, including 47 points in 66 games this year to finish only behind Fiala and Suter in team scoring. I don't know which part of that is "bad."

I'll be mildly surprised if MoJo comes close to 40 points this coming year. He hasn't done that since he left Washington, four teams ago.

[The Original FFIV]

Looks like the GM is listening to the coach. From Russo’s Twitter

Guerin confirms Johansson will play center in Minnesota. Dean Evason knows him well from Washington and feels he can be an impactful centerman

[WCW Nitro]

Centres usually have a big drop-off in productivity in their mid-30's, especially big centres. Staal is already a 50-60 point centre now, wouldn't be surprised if he drastically falls off to a Jeff Carter-like level. Would much rather have Johanson at this point in their careers.

[Crown Royal]

Originally Posted by WCW Nitro

Centres usually have a big drop-off in productivity in their mid-30's, especially big centres. Staal is already a 50-60 point centre now, wouldn't be surprised if he drastically falls off to a Jeff Carter-like level. Would much rather have Johanson at this point in their careers.

Even if Staal has a 20 opint drop off, he'd still be the same level as Johansson.

[ricardodw]

Staal signed a below market UFA contract with the Wild in 2016 after a miserable (for him) playoff run with the Rangers as a 31 year old

Put up 3 seasons where he was in the top 2 Wild scorers and then resigned with them for another below market contract 3.25 x 2

Much was said of how he much playing for the Wild saved his career after his last few years in Carolina.

Really really hard to understand how the Wild would move him out unless he wanted out.

If there is not some underlying reason that Staal may have indicated that he had enough and wanted to move on it makes no sense at all.

If Staal did not initiate this move it will test the theory of treating UFA signings poorly making it harder for a team to sign future UFAs.


Staal was the most favorable to the team UFA signing that comes to mind.

[bubbsy]

For a team needing to absolutely make some changes to make their angry sabre fanbase feel better, bringing in a 35 year old C to try to solve their #2 C issue, seems pretty damn underwhelming.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

For a team needing to absolutely make some changes to make their angry sabre fanbase feel better, bringing in a 35 year old C to try to solve their #2 C issue, seems pretty damn underwhelming.

If I were a Sabres fan my read would be that this trade was made to give Cozens a little room to grow into the role behind Eichel. Staal provides an undeniable upgrade, and also buys some time to see what they have in their top prospect.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

For a team needing to absolutely make some changes to make their angry sabre fanbase feel better, bringing in a 35 year old C to try to solve their #2 C issue, seems pretty damn underwhelming.

Staal is the better player and brings leadership. The fanbase should be happy with this trade.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

For a team needing to absolutely make some changes to make their angry sabre fanbase feel better, bringing in a 35 year old C to try to solve their #2 C issue, seems pretty damn underwhelming.

Staal is a freak of Nature . Rod Brind'Amour had a productive 51 pt season as a 38 year old.

The 3 games he missed with the Wild last year make 4 games missed in the last 5 years. NO significant injuries in his career 11 season with over 80 games. the short season he played all 48.



last season Staal was the #37 highest scoring centre

and the #76 highest scoring forward... Stats wise the 93 highest scorers are top line players.

He had a better stats line than Monahan.

He did not have a dramatic fall off .. He had .71 ppg UP from .64


As far as 2nd line centers where do you think he would fit in on the Flames?

[DomeFoam]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

As far as 2nd line centers where do you think he would fit in on the Flames?

Probably 2nd line centre

[sureLoss]

https://theathletic.com/2074026/2020...shared_article

Why wasn’t Buffalo on Eric Staal’s 10-team no-trade list?

...

The answer to the question, according to a source close to the matter, is that the 10 teams on Staal’s list were populated mostly by playoff clubs that kept calling Minnesota over the last few years to see if they could convince the centre to move at the deadline.

It never occurred to Staal or his veteran agent Rick Curran that the struggling Sabres would see fit to trade for a player who will turn 36 on Oct. 29. So you can see their thinking, there.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

https://theathletic.com/2074026/2020...shared_article

That's a couple times that players have tried to manipulate their fortunes via the NTC and it backfired - Kadri tried to prevent being traded as well (in his case it didn't turn out badly based on his success).

[powderjunkie]

After previously signing with the Wild for 3 seasons and fully delivering (incl. a 42G 76P season!), you'd think he could have demanded a stronger NTC while taking a reduced AAV on his next deal.

Of course, there was a regime change. Key example of why I don't blame players for putting their own interests first...trust/loyalty with individual(s) only lasts as long as those individual(s) do.


I guess it helps explain why MIN couldn't do much better. Presuming Johansson's NTC is more typical, he will probably return similar to futures as Staal given his 'odd' NTC.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Limited NTC or not, it sucks that Stall was stunned of how that played out. He deserves better from Minny, in my opinion. My only question to him would be, “you really want to stay in Minnesota”?

[Jiri Hrdina]

I don't think Minny did anything wrong.
Just like I don't have an issue when the player exercises his NTC.
He had a 10 team list, the Wild traded him to someone not on that list.
No harm. No foul.
If he didn't really want to go to Buffalo he should have had them on the list, rather than hope that they wouldn't trade for him.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I don't think Minny did anything wrong.
Just like I don't have an issue when the player exercises his NTC.
He had a 10 team list, the Wild traded him to someone not on that list.
No harm. No foul.
If he didn't really want to go to Buffalo he should have had them on the list, rather than hope that they wouldn't trade for him.

I agree. I just think he probably bought what Fenton was selling him when he signed his last deal, and is paying the price for it now.


It seems like MIN should be following the LAK playbook of restocking their shelves despite being unable to move several big deals. It's a no brainer considering the state of the Central Division and a season or two of no/limited ticket sales.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiggy

Staal is the better player and brings leadership. The fanbase should be happy with this trade.

Unless he pulls a Carter and just plays badly to get out of the city.

[Vinny01]

I hate NTC to begin with. In the NBA/NFL those are restricted to the elites of the elites. In the NHL we often see bottom pairing D and bottom 6 forwards getting some kind of trade protection.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I hate NTC to begin with. In the NBA/NFL those are restricted to the elites of the elites. In the NHL we often see bottom pairing D and bottom 6 forwards getting some kind of trade protection.

How dare these humans achieve any right of self-determination/stability in their lives!

NTCs usually cost players some money compared to their theoretical fair market price. It's fair.