STAAL OPEN TO MOVE TO A CONTENDER

TORONTO, ON — To say the 2020-21 NHL season did not go nearly as planned for the Buffalo Sabres would be a massive understatement.

The Sabres sit last in the NHL with a 6-14-3 record and captain Jack Eichel may miss significant time due to an ongoing, nagging upper body injury that has plagued him since training camp. As Aaron Ward reported earlier today, Eichel’s expected to seek a second opinion before determining next steps.

With Eichel potentially out of the lineup for a length period and defenceman Jake McCabe already done for the season, management will continue to explore the trade market on just about any player another team inquires about.

Defenceman Brandon Montour is likely to move by the April 12 trade deadline, forwards Tobias Rieder and Riley Sheahan can become unrestricted free agents this July, and Sabres GM Kevyn Adams is expected to speak with Taylor Hall’s agent some time this week to get the ball rolling on a contract extension – if one cannot be agreed upon, he’ll be dealt, as well.

Another player primed for a move is centre Eric Staal.

According to a well-placed source close to the situation, Staal is “wide open” to a move to a playoff contender and is interested in chasing another Stanley Cup this season.

Staal owns a 10-team no-trade clause, which has not yet been modified and includes current Cup contenders, but I’ve been told he is willing to listen to almost all of his options. The ball is now in Adams’ court and he will approach Staal once the right trade opportunity presents itself ahead of the deadline.

I get the sense that a move to a team in the North Division is unlikely, given the 14-day quarantine requirement imposed by the Canadian government. But U.S.-based teams in need of a Cup-winning, veteran centre with a desire to hunt down another championship ring take notice, Staal’s willing and able.

Could the Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche use a player like Staal? I’m sure they’ll check in.

Staal’s $3.25 million salary cap makes him that much more attractive, and the Sabres could be in a position to retain a chunk of that salary to help a cap-crunched team.

Meanwhile, Eric’s brother Marc is in the same boat in Detroit.

Marc Staal has a full no-movement clause and is also eager to battle for a Cup on a contending team. He comes with a $5.7 million cap hit, though, and the Red Wings would almost certainly have to retain a big piece of that, perhaps the max of 50 per cent.

We are less than five weeks until the deadline and trade chatter is picking up. Soon, movement will too, and both Eric and Marc Staal should be wearing new uniforms by the time the clock strikes 3PM ET on April 12th.