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Carolina Hurricanes: Top Landing Spots for Eric Staal

By Brett Finger

Nov 30, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Eric Staal (12) works the puck during the third period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. New York Rangers won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Eric Staal (12) works the puck during the third period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. New York Rangers won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 6, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Eric Staal (12) shoots the puck into the zone during the second period against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 6, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Eric Staal (12) shoots the puck into the zone during the second period against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators shocked the league earlier in the year with a big trade that brought in Ryan Johansen from the Columbus Blue Jackets, but even now, they can still benefit from more help up front.

The Preds are an interesting team for a lot of reasons. Their offense still ranks in the bottom half of the NHL in goal production, scoring at a 2.56 goals per game clip, with their big new addition in Johansen, they have enough cap room to bring in Eric Staal’s contract, and they have all the assets that could pry Staal away from Carolina.

Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes /

Carolina Hurricanes

Nashville’s leading scorer is still Roman Josi, who has generated 44 points through 61 games from the blue line. The team’s leading scorer amongst forwards is the surging Filip Forsberg who is up to 42 points on the campaign.

Adding Staal to the club’s on and off top-six would bolster it immidiately. He’d join the likes of the recently acquired Ryan Johansen, James Neal, Filip Forsberg, and Craig Smith. Staal is a natural scorer with great playmaking ability, which should only help their offense run more efficiently. They also have the option of playing him on both the wing and down the middle.

Staal’s ability to drive plays and play solid two-way hockey would also fit in quite well on a Nashville team that ranks near the top of the league in corsi percentage.

The Predators have the assets to make this deal work. They have all of their 1st round draft picks, which seems to be the key in an Eric Staal trade, and they have legitimate prospects in Kevin Fiala, Jimmy Vesey, Vladislav Kamenev, and Yakov Trenin, all of which project to be NHL forwards.

The Nashville Predators are still fighting for their lives in the Western Conference Wild Card race. It’s likely that they will make the postseason, but it remains highly unlikely that they’d be able to take down a Chicago or Dallas team in the playoffs. The addition of Staal would legitimize their forward unit in a big way, and they wouldn’t have to part ways with anyone on their big time blue line in the process.

Next: Chicago Blackhawks

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