Tribune-Review
Published: Sunday, May 13, 2012, 12:30 a.m.Updated 10 hours ago
Myriad reasons exist for Jordan Staal’s name continuing to surface in trade speculation, and postseason comments by himself and the organization did nothing to squash such rumors.
When asked about the Penguins’ “three-center model” following a first-round playoff exit against Philadelphia, general manager Ray Shero said, “It has worked in the past. Whether it works in the future remains to be seen.”
Staal, whose contract expires next summer, recently was asked whether he, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin could enjoy long-term happiness in Pittsburgh.
“Good question,” he said.
Shero told the Tribune-Review in December that signing Crosby, who has one more year on his current deal, to a new contract was the organization’s “top priority” this summer.
Malkin’s deal has two years remaining, and the Penguins intend to give him a new deal. History says Malkin, 25, will remain with the Penguins. Only three multiple-time NHL scoring champions — Wayne Gretzky, Jaromir Jagr and Phil Esposito — have been traded, and all were older than Malkin when they were dealt. Malkin won his second Art Ross Trophy this season.
Then there’s the economic reality: The Penguins have $40 million locked up in 10 players for the 2013-14 season. That figure doesn’t include Crosby, who probably will make about $10 million that season.
As the current salary cap stands — and should a new CBA be passed this summer, the cap number of $64 million could decrease — the Penguins would have more than a dozen players, including Staal, to sign but only about $14 million to spend.
On the open market, Staal could command at least $7 million per season, those in his camp say.
Other teams, notably Philadelphia, have abandoned one-time plans in favor of constructing teams built around younger, cheaper players. The Flyers’ plan worked, at least for one series, as Shero and the Penguins saw up close last month.
Letting Staal walk when his contract expires — Nashville, where Shero once was assistant general manager, is facing that situation with star defenseman Ryan Suter — is not something the Penguins want. Receiving a heavy bounty in return for Staal is more to their liking.
Staal, 23, has one year remaining on a contract that pays him $4 million annually. He produced a career-high 50 points in 62 games last season and led the Penguins with six goals and nine points in the playoffs.
Reports have surfaced from Raleigh, N.C., and Edmonton, Alberta, that the Hurricanes and Oilers, respectively, are interested in Staal. Trade rumors likely will only intensify as summer nears.
Here are the most logical trade partners for the Penguins:
1. Carolina Hurricanes
Staal’s brother, Eric, plays in Raleigh. Also, consider the following: The Hurricanes could use a dominant No. 2 center, they’re $20 million under the salary cap for next season and have plenty to offer the Penguins.
Don’t discount the fact that Jordan Staal doesn’t particularly enjoy media circuses. He’s a quiet kid who likes to play hockey. He is getting married this summer, and raising a family in the same neighborhood as his brother’s family is appealing. His youngest brother, Jared, is also in Carolina’s system.
Raleigh makes sense on many levels. The Hurricanes know it, and so does Staal.
What the Hurricanes have to offer
Carolina likely will make a strong run for Staal this summer and dangle center Brandon Sutter as part of a deal. He’s a strong, young center who would look good behind Crosby and Malkin. The Hurricanes also boast the No. 8 pick in the upcoming draft and a number of strong prospects.
2. Toronto Maple Leafs
It has become known that Toronto general manager Brian Burke is a big Jordan Staal fan. In fact, every GM in hockey is a big Staal fan, but Burke is said to particularly covet him.
Burke and Shero are friends and have conducted business together. Think they would like Staal, a Thunder Bay native, in Ontario?
What the Maple Leafs have to offer
Center Nazem Kadri is the most talented player in Toronto’s system, and he thrived late in the season with the Maple Leafs. He’s a pure goal scorer. Also, defenseman Luke Schenn is the kind of physical, stay-at-home defenseman the Penguins badly need. The Maple Leafs are willing to deal Schenn.
3. Edmonton Oilers
No team, not even the Penguins, has hit the lottery jackpot like Edmonton. The Oilers are about to pick first in the NHL Draft for the third consecutive year. They will take winger Nail Yakupov, yet another highly skilled winger.
The Oilers are young and talented. They need a player accomplished enough to teach them how to win but young enough to be a leader for a long time.
What the Oilers have to offer
It’s pretty simple: The Oilers don’t want to deal any of their young guns, but multiple reports out of Edmonton suggest that the Oilers would consider dealing the top overall pick for Staal. In January, former Penguins coach Scott Bowman said Yakupov — whom he scouted in December — reminded him of former NHL star Pavel Bure.
4. Minnesota Wild
Minnesota is a no-name squad looking for an identity and players who bring credibility.
Enter Staal.
He would be the perfect leader for this team, and there are Penguins connections everywhere here. Remember Mike Yeo, the former Penguins assistant who now is the Wild head coach? Chuck Fletcher, Shero’s assistant and now current Wild GM?
Bonus for Staal: St. Paul, Minn., is a six-hour drive from Thunder Bay, making it the closest NHL city to Staal’s hometown.
What the Wild have to offer
Right wing Cal Clutterbuck is the kind of player Shero and Penguins coach Dan Bylsma would love. He would be an upgrade over Tyler Kennedy on the third line. Minnesota also likely would be willing to include right wing Devin Setoguchi, who could score 30 goals on Crosby’s line, in such a deal. Minnesota also owns the No. 7 pick in this year’s draft.
About Josh Yohe
Tribune-Review Sports reporter Josh Yohe can be reached via e-mail or at 412-664-9161 x1975. 
If you believe what you hear and read EVERYWHERE, no matter what Crosby is going nowhere. I have always loved Crosby, but I don't like that thought at this point given the question marks around his ability to play a full season. If healthy, he is the best in the world, but that is one large if. I am in the camp that the superstar model may work best with one MEGAPOWER, and I also believe that the big body and two way style of Staal is exactly what the Penguins need MORE of, not less of during the post season. It does not matter, as it seems that the franchise covets Crosby over all else, and that leaves Malkin and Staal as the trade bait if the need to regain cap space means the three center model is no longer viable for Pittsburgh. The team had a great regular season campaign with Malkin and Staal carrying the tag of one and two center, and Staal played the best in the playoffs of the three. Malkin and Crosby of late seem to water each other down quite a bit as well. I also think the Pens could make cap space elsewhere and let Staal play a wing with either Malkin or Crosby, while having him as insurance should either get hurt, but that would come down to Staal's interest in that, and willingness to be no more than 6M per year. It would also be contingent on a salary dump with Paul Martin. The Pens could hedge their bets and do nothing at first with Crosby to see how far into the season he gets, and gamble they can sign him mid season if healthy, or reconsider if he suffers a head injury early in the season. If Crosby is hurt again, his trade value plummets, BUT you avoid a long term anchor on the team's ability to compete for a Cup if you avoid a long term high dollar deal in the process, while not losing him during the evaluation phase. All of that makes sense to me, BUT from everything I read and hear, us Staal fans need to brace for what seems like the inevitable mistake in my opinion. Of the above deals, I offer the following comments:
Carolina would have a lot of appeal for Jordan Staal, and it should for that franchise as well. Jordan Staal was a second overall pick, who is only 24 and still improving who will likely post 35 goals on his upside AND play a strong physical game and kill penalties while offering a threat to score on the PK. I like the thought of a young solid 3 line center, so Sutter sounds good as part of the deal, but to me it STARTS with Sutter AND the 8th overall pick plus another player. I also consider the idea of asking the Canes to take Martin as part of the deal as a cap dump for Pittsburgh, which opens up the space for further moves during the summer. If the Pens can dump Martin in this deal, and maybe get the 8th pick and Sutter plus a solid role player or prospect, if we have to make a move, maybe we can live with that. If it makes such sense for Carolina to unite the Staal's and it sure would sizzle for marketing purposes, the Penguins should leverage that to their advantage.
Toronto has some assets of interest for Pittsburgh, Luke Schenn being the nasty defenseman that Pittsburgh needs. Schenn is a young nasty defenseman at 6'2" and 229lbs who is signed through 2015-16 at a reasonable 3.6M. Adding Schenn would add size, grit, and longer term stability to the Penguins blue line. Kadri on an entry level contract and has interesting upside, but not sure of his fit if all centers are healthy, as he does not seem like a 3rd line center. I like the thought of Steckel at 1.1M as a fourth liner with strong face off abilities or Tyler Bozak at 1.5M who could be the third line center, and comes with a 1.5M cap hit. Give me Schenn, Bozak and a 3rd rounder here, and if we have to throw in a prospect, I can live with this move if Staal HAS to go. Also, let's not forget that it was Toronto GM Brian Burke who thought enough of Martin to hold his spot on the US Olympic team despite Martin's broken arm, with no tryout, until the last possible second. Is there an ability to make a move here as well as a contingency to getting Staal? Dumping the Martin contract as part of this deal would be a huge benefit to Pittsburgh. Schenn, Bozak and a pick fro Staal, Kadri and a pick for Martin? Finally, the Leafs possess the fifth overall pick in the draft, and the Penguins around the 22nd. Would the Pens be able to get some sort of swapping in the draft, to any deal here?
Minnesota has some assets mentioned here as well. I do like the idea of Cal Clutterbuck coming back as the type of third line center with some grit and size at 213lbs. He is signed at 1.4M for one more year, and then is only an RFA. He also chipped in 15 goals, so he is not without offensive production abilities as well. Setoguchi could look good with Crosby, and he is signed at 3M per year for 2 more seasons, and added 19 goals for Minnesota. I would still like another asset added to this deal in terms of a draft pick or swapped picks in round one, allowing Pittsburgh to move up in that round. Minnesota has the 7th overall pick in the draft, so a swap of picks and Clutterbuck would be interesting in return for Staal.
Staal is a former 2nd overall pick, with size, grit, 30 goal plus capability, PK dominance, and tremendous 2 way play, who at 24 STILL has upside. If we have to move him, we better take advantage and get the right return. I would love feedback, positive or negative to my thoughts.
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