Long the foundation upon which the Carolina Hurricanes built their franchise, Eric Staal was finally dealt this season at the trade deadline to the New York Rangers for a bevvy of prospects and picks. The move signalled Carolina’s enthusiasm to rebuild from the bottom up, but also the relative decline of the once dominant Staal. 

Now, at 31-years-old, the former second overall selection is staring down free agency for the first time in his 11 season career. Though Staal’s offensive production waned to pedestrian levels this season, he remains a dominant two-way force down the middle of the ice — capable of pushing the needle in less obvious, but nearly as relevant fashions.

Staal’s performance as a Ranger (a modest six points in twenty games) indicates he might not be staring down the hefty pay-day we all spent much of this season anticipating. That fact, among others, puts Staal into a rarified class of free agents, likely in need of a short-term contract with which to bet on themselves, as they attempt to adjust the market for their services accordingly.

Should the Canucks throw their chips on the table?

Though Staal’s production isn’t what it used to be, his ability to drive favourable shot and goal percentages remains solvent. Staal has finished in the red as a possession player but twice in his 11 years of professional hockey and is coming off a 55.2% Corsi For last season. It should come as no surprise then that Staal posted a 5.1% CF%RelTm, which indicates he had a strongly positive impact on his linemates possession. 

Finding a spot for Staal to play would prove difficult. The Canucks already have a logjam down the middle of their lineup, with commitments to Henrik Sedin, Bo Horvat, Brandon Sutter and Markus Granlund for next season and beyond. There’s also Linden Vey to consider, who the Canucks could very well extend a qualifying offer. 

The addition of Staal almost certainly spells a position change for one, if not more of these natural centres. Alternatively, perhaps the Canucks could sell Staal on trying to shift to wing again. That might prove a difficult sell, though. The Rangers tried Staal on the wing in spells, to little reward.

Perhaps the Canucks return Sutter to the Sedin’s wing and approach their centre depth chart as a death by a thousand cuts quartet. What the Canucks will lack in star power could be made up in volume. Try matching lines against a centre set that reads: Sedin, Staal, Horvat, Granlund. It might seem outlandish, but there’s a definite method to that madness.

Of all the high-profile free agents due for unrestricted free agency, I am least certain of Staal’s ability to secure a lucrative long-term deal. Less an indictment of his ability than it is the plague of recency bias in the minds of decision makers. Therefore, Staal is likely representative of one of the more glaring market inefficiencies on the open market this summer.

Staal isn’t at the top of my list for free agents this summer. Certainly not for the Canucks. I’d be wary of dismissing the notion entirely, though, given Staal’s two-way play and what he offers as insulation to some of the Canucks younger centres. I’m skeptical of whether we’ll ever see “60+ point centre, Eric Staal” again, but near-certain that he can contribute to the two-way health of a team’s lineup for at least the next few seasons. There’s value in that, to be sure. 

Placing a bet on Staal isn’t the conventional option, but it wouldn’t be out to lunch by any means either. Trying to sell a rebuild-rabid city on a 31-year-old and arguably over the hill free agent would prove difficult, though. So while I’m intrigued by the possibility of Staal as a Canuck for next season and potentially beyond, I can’t see them making that leap. I don’t think I’d blame them, either.