Carolina Hurricanes Ron Francis Can Understand the Life of Eric Staal

The chatter and hum from Carolina Hurricanes fans and NHL pundits is deafening these days as the NHL trade deadline approaches.

Captain Eric Staal and General Manager Ron Francis are the focus of most of this noise, as Francis fields interest in the most notable, and arguably highest-ranked, unrestricted free agent on the market. It has got to be one of the most stressful and distracting periods in Mr. Staal’s life and career.

As a Francis and Staal fan there is some solace to be taken in the fact that Ron Francis understands all too well what kind of position Eric Staal is in right now.

Captain of a franchise that has seen better days, but has the core of a rabid fan base that loves their team and loves their leader. A player who has had both tremendous years with incredible successes, and troubling years with not much to show for the effort. And a teammate that has had the thrill of playing on a team with multiple future Hall of Famers, and the struggle of playing on a team full of young and hungry rookies just learning the ropes.

Related Story: Eric Staal and Cam Ward are not Thelma and Louise

There’s one experience, though, that Eric hasn’t yet experienced that Captain “Ronnie Franchise” had many times in his twenty two year career. Having to pack up and move to another city and another team because someone in the offices above the rink decided to make a trade.

Let’s take a quick look at Ron Francis‘ NHL history:

• Drafted 4th overall by the Hartford Whalers in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. He still holds most of the franchise’s scoring records.
• In 1991 he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he won two Stanley Cups and was team Captain.
• Left Pittsburgh in 1998 as a free agent and signed a four-year, $20.8 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.
• Re-signed with Carolina to a two-year, $11 million contract in 2002.
• He was traded in 2004 to the Toronto Maple Leafs for one last shot at the Cup before retirement
• In 2005 he announced his retirement from the NHL.

Francis seemed to be at the top of his game each time he was moved from team to team. The leader in all ways in Hartford, and dealt to Pittsburgh. Captain, Selke Trophy winner, Stanley Cup Champ with the Penguins, and let go as a free agent to be signed by the Hurricanes. Asks to move to Toronto for one last shot at a Cup. It’s got to be hard when you put in all that time and effort for a franchise and a team and some executive in a suit tells you that you and the family are moving to Pittsburgh or Raleigh. But “Ronnie Franchise” did it with class.

"“I was given the “C” at a very young age and, quite honestly, probably wasn’t ready for it at that point. I think it’s a process you learn through experience; you learn through some of your teammates that have been around the league more times than not. Eventually, you learn more as you get traded. I went to Pittsburgh and learned different things, then in Carolina. So, for me, it was more of a process of how it worked. Everybody has a different style; some guys are talkers and yellers, other guys [lead] by action. It’s being comfortable in your own skin and finding what works for you.” – Ron Francis on being a Captain, to ESPN.com, during his 2007 HHOF induction"

Now let’s take a quick look at Eric Staal‘s NHL history:

• Drafted 2nd by the Carolina Hurricanes in the ’03 NHL Draft.
• His first season as an NHL player was okay for a rookie, tallying 31 points.
• His second season was lost to the ’04-05 league/player labor dispute.
• His first full season in the NHL was ’05-’06, on a team built for the new NHL rules and his type of play. He put up tremendous numbers and helped the season-long run to the playoffs, and winning the Stanley Cup.
• He signs a three year extension on his entry-level contract, paying him roughly $5.5 million through 2010.
• Two decent seasons and good performances at the ’07 and ’08 All Star games lead Jim Rutherford to sign him to a seven year, $57 million extension through 2016.

So there you have his history. No trades or big career-changing moments. A relatively easy entry into the league, quick Cup success, two easy contract deals, and here he is in 2016.

None of this is meant to diminish Eric’s accomplishments and contributions to the Carolina Hurricanes and their successes, because they are readily apparent. Multiple seasons with over 70 points. All Star MVP winner and top five Hart Trophy vote-getter. His history is recounted here simply to put into perspective where he is now, and what he’s been through to get here.

After being drafted second behind Marc-Andre Fluery, who’s also still with the same team thirteen years later, he’s had a pretty successful, but quiet NHL career. He has never been at the superstar level like Ovechkin or Crosby, where the hockey media and NHL fans around the world know your name and face. He’s just been a quiet NHL Captain in a quiet southern NHL town.

He now finds himself the absolute number one target of all trade deadline babble across every form of media in the NHL universe. He can’t turn on the news, read a paper, check his email or answer his phone right now without the same issue being in his face. And don’t even get me started about social media and what’s going on there.

Imagine being Eric Staal’s wife or family right now and wanting to get on your Facebook or Twitter account. It is not fun or pleasant when everywhere you turn and everything you see or read is about you, your job and your future. I don’t care who you are or what you do for a living. Something like that DOES affect your life, your family, your attitude and your performance.

Next: What Should Ron Francis do Before Monday?

Ron Francis is a great leader, character guy, good friend, and so far, a tremendous general manager. Whatever is ultimately decided about Eric Staal’s future in the NHL, there is one thing for certain. The right man with the right experience is running the show.

The trade deadline is Monday, February 29th at 3:00 PM (EST). That is the point at which, in a Hurricanes jersey or not, Eric Staal and his family can get back to a normal life. It’s a deadline that none of the shouting fans or yammering pundits have to worry about to do the same thing on Tuesday morning.