Marc Staal Isn’t Going Anywhere
Of all the members of the Rangers blue line, there is one name that fans seem to perseverate on. Marc Staal is in the thoughts of everyone’s mind as he enters the last year of his contract. In today’s NY Post, Larry Brooks ponders on the subject. He writes:
Because the number for Staal on an extension that would begin next season is going to start with a pair of fives at a minimum, as in $5.5 million per for six years, for that’s at least as much as the Blueshirts’ alternate captain would get on the open market next summer unless he sustains another concussion in 2014-15.
Either they believe he is worth it or they don’t. Because unless calamity strikes, the number isn’t going down. So the Rangers can pay it … or they can get to work right now investigating what Staal might fetch in a trade.
The numbers certainly sound right at 5.5 million per. However, I believe Marc Staal would be willing to give the Rangers a hometown discount. Why? Let’s first start off with the way this organization stood by his side during numerous concussions and a career altering eye injury. And let’s not forget just how young and promising this team is.
[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2aNif71_y0″][su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltD9PgPBa7o”]Game Seven Highlights –Â [/su_youtube]
Yes, Marty St. Louis and Dan Boyle aside, these Rangers are young. Even Lundqvist (32) has at least 6 more solid season’s left in him. So the lure of greener pastures will likely not be there.
Can we all put the notion of an “ALL-STAAL” team in Carolina to bed? Because honestly, the only people who really want to see that live in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The Hurricanes are a flat out mess. Signing Marc Staal at the UFA price of say 6 – 7 million a year would mean 21 million of a possible 75 million cap on 3 players. That’s 1/3 of the payroll on 3 players!
Speaking of the expected cap ceiling going to 73-75 million for next season, the additional 4-6 million should be ample enough to retain not only Staal but Derek Stepan too. Staal makes almost 4M now and Stepan is at 3M. Give Staal 1.5 and Stepan 3M more and there’s your cap increase.
So before we all start seeking what we can fetch in a trade and break up most likely the best defense in the league, look at the numbers and the facts. Marc Staal is a top pairing defenseman playing on the second pair. That is a luxury NHL teams would kill for. He literally shut down Sidney Crosby singlehandedly in the playoffs.
 [su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1pLedkcNyQ”][su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltD9PgPBa7o”]Game Seven Highlights – [/su_youtube]
Of course, if Marc Staal and his agent go all “Callahan” in negotiations, then you should handle accordingly and explore trade deadline options. That is still more than 8 month away.
Staal is not going anywhere, anytime soon.
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