July 4, 2008 | 1:24am ET
Canes aren't rushing into Staal deal TheFourthPeriod.com
The Hurricanes would like to have Eric Staal locked up to a contract extension, but the team isn't going to rush into a deal, reports the Raleigh News & Observer.
Staal has one-year left on his current contract, worth $5 million, and can become a restricted free agent next summer. The paper suggests a new deal could see him make $7 million per season.
"I don't think this is something that should be rushed through. It's something that can be walked through," Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford told the newspaper. "He's under contract for another year. We know he's our franchise player. We want to do this right, what's right for him and what's right for us.
"So even though it's a top priority, it's not something that's going to get done in the next week or the next month, but we will continue to work on it."
Staal, 23, appears ready and willing to listen to the Hurricanes about an extension.
"I love being here," Staal told the News & Observer. "I think we've got successful group. We obviously need to get back to the playoffs. I felt last year we had a great team and the year before as well. I feel we have a group here to win again and I want to be a part of that."
Meanwhile, the Canes are trying to trade a defenseman, and all signs point to Frantisek Kaberle.
"We will look at moving a defenseman now," Rutherford said.
