NHL Trade Rumor: Where Will Eric Staal Go?

Oct 18, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals players salute the fans from center ice after their game against the Florida Panthers at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 2-1 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Capitals

Everyone knows about the Alex Ovechkin– Niklas Backstrom duo.  But the Capitals have struggled in recent seasons finding that consistent presence behind those top two guys on offense.  Adding Eric Staal on the second line would finally bring some depth in the top six and immediately give the Capitals a top-center duo rivaling just about any team in the league.

The key piece in any deal has to center around second-year forward Evgeny Kuznetsov.  The Russian forward is highly-thought of and brings a high-skill set that the Hurricanes currently lack.

The real issue is shedding enough salary in order to absorb Staal’s contract as the Capitals are already over the salary cap.  In that regard, defenseman Mike Green would almost certainly have to be included in any package to make it occur.  Green has had his injury issues and is on the last year of his contract.  However if he can stay healthy the Hurricanes could flip him at the deadline for additional assets and really start stockpiling for the future. Again, he’s not the centerpiece of this deal and even if he couldn’t stay on the ice, you can just let him walk after the season.  Forward Eric Fehr would also need to be included to make the money work.  So we have:

Carolina acquires Kuznetsov, Green, Fehr, 2015 first round pick

Washington acquires Staal

The Capitals went all-in on defense with the acquisitions of Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik.  Adding Staal gives them another weapon to compete in a wide-open Eastern Conference.  Plus can you imagine a power play feature Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Staal? Wow…