The Minnesota Wild have agreed to a two-year contract extension with centre Eric Staal worth $6.5 million, or $3.25 million AAV per year. Staal will get $3.5 million in the first year and $3.0 million in the second. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, 2019.
Eric Staal agrees to terms with MIN on a two-year extension with an AAV of $3.25M, including $3.5M next season and $3M the year after that. He would have been UFA on July 1.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 25, 2019
Minnesota Wild Sign Eric Staal to a Two-Year Contract Extension
In Staal, the Wild get a 15-year veteran who can still produce at a very high level offensively. He provides some size on the top six and could help a team out on the powerplay. This season, he scored 18 goals and 23 assists for 41 points in 62 games, adding 30 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers are 53.7 percent Corsi-For and a relative Corsi of +3.5. Those totals are down compared to last season, where he scored 42 goals, 34 assists for 76 points. Over his 15-year NHL career, Staal has played for the Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild. In that time, he has 413 goals and 550 assists for 963 career points in 1155 career NHL games. He was originally drafted second overall of the 2003 NHL draft by the Carolina Hurricanes.
What This Means for the Future
With Staal being a UFA at the end of the season he was rumoured to be a possible trade deadline rental. Instead, the Wild keep the 34-year old in Minnesota. Over the course of his career, Staal has played in 58 Stanley Cup Playoff games, recording 20 goals and 26 assists for 46 points over that time. He was part of the 2006 Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes. Staal should prove to be a leader especially come playoff time. He also is solid on draws.
Main Photo: ST. PAUL, MN – MARCH 29: Minnesota Wild center Eric Staal (12) looks on during the Western Conference game between the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild on March 29, 2018 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Stars 5-2. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
