Hurricanes Trade Rumors: Cam Ward & Eric Staal

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Nov 1, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes forward Eric Staal (12) takes a shot against the Tampa Bay Lightning at PNC Arena. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Staal

Florida Panthers

Florida has had its financial struggles in recent history, and any playoff revenue can be a major difference maker in the functionality of this team moving forward. They’re young and hungry, with a solid underrated defensive group, led by a couple of kids and a 43-year-old forward up front. Huberdeau and Barkov are taking steps in making this their team, along with Nick Bjugstad. But so far, Jaromir Jagr has been the story in Florida.

The Panthers have some decent pieces up front with guys like Jussi Jokinen and Reilly Smith, but imagine adding another big versatile center into the mix. Eric Staal could be the piece that contributes in helping this team from a 9th to 11th place team, into a 7th or 8th seed squeezing into the playoffs.

Carolina targets could include players such as Rocco Grimaldi, Brandon Pirri, or Quinton Howden. Although it’s unclear how willing the Panthers would be to part with any of their young forwards. Names like Alex Petrovic and Dylan Olsen would be likely targets on the back-end. There’s no probably no way a deal gets done without a 2016 first round pick, so Florida would need to be sure they could avoid the lottery for this to work.

Minnesota Wild

This core group that includes Ryan Suter, Zach Parise, Jason Pominville, Thomas Vanek, and Mikko Koivu are nearing their expiration date for Cup potential. Year after year this team finds a way to fall short, even though on paper, they’re built as one of the elite.

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A lot of these Wild players are at peaks in their career or just beginning digression, and the time is now to pull the trigger and go for the Cup. Eric Staal would add depth to the top-six and could be the final piece to help carry Minnesota deep into the playoffs.

Minnesota need to be willing to give up a roster player plus more to make it happen. Carolina may be interested in players such as Erik Haula, Justin Fontaine, Jason Zucker, or Jordan Schroeder. Although Minnesota would be hesitant to part ways with a few of those guys. Top prospects like Alex Tuch, Jordan Greenway, and Tyler Graovac are a few guys that could help get a deal done. Other prospects and picks would probably be involved. Any Staal deal would likely require a 2016 first rounder.

Montreal Canadiens

The Habs have taken a lot of heat in the past come playoff time for not being big enough, or tough enough. But the Chicago Blackhawks have proven size doesn’t matter in 2015-16 with Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin tearing up the stats sheet. Montreal has added some big pieces, and the team has grown together, and looks poised to be a top threat in the Eastern Conference. Imagine adding Eric Staal as a rental at the trade deadline? That’s the type of player that could help push a team over the edge.

Montreal is loaded with one of the deeper prospect pools, and have enough talent down in the AHL that a deal could be done. They’d probably need to sacrifice a bottom-six player like Devante Smith-Pelly or Paul Byron, but adding players such as Charles Hudon, Sven Andrighetto, or Christian Thomas are the types of guys that could help get a deal done. Once again, any deal for Staal would need to include a 2016 first rounder.

Nashville Predators

Nashville looks poised to be a Stanley Cup contender in 2015-16, but it still feels like there’s a piece missing. It’s not a knock on centers Mike Ribeiro and Mike Fisher, because they’ve both played extremely well. But when push comes to shove, that isn’t a pair of top centers that can last a grueling four rounds to capture the Stanley Cup. If you can add Eric Staal to the equation, Nashville may have a legitimate shot at making a deep playoff run.

Roster players that could interest Carolina are Austin Watson, Calle Jarnkrok, Cody Hodgson, Mattias Ekholm, or Victor Bartley. Prospects that could be of particular interest to Carolina would be Colton Sissons, Kevin Fiala, Vladislav Kamenev, or Jimmy Vesey. One of those combinations plus a 2016 first rounder and a deal might be had.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Why would the Tampa Bay Lightning add a player with a massive cap hit when they’re already struggling to find a way to extend their superstar forward. Obviously it would strictly be a rental for this season, and the cap hit come trade deadline would be minimal, and likely affordable by that point. Think of this scenario as comparable to when teams like Pittsburgh and Detroit were adding Marian Hossa for additional depth down the stretch.

Next: Montreal Canadiens Trade Rumors

Valterri Filppula and Matt Carle are likely the only veterans GM Ron Francis might be interested in. Other targets might include Vladislav Namestnikov, J.T. Brown, Cedric Paquette, Adam Erne, Dennis Yan, Slater Koekkoek, and Nikita Nesterov. GM Steve Yzerman might be reluctant to part ways with roster players or top-tier prospects, but they’ve got enough talent in the minors to make a deal happen, coupled with a 2016 first rounder of course.

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