Staal brothers want to get 'Canes back in playoffs

Hurricanes

Staal brothers want to get 'Canes back in playoffs

Jun 26, 2012

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Raleigh, N.C. — At most weddings, the time between dinner and dessert is reserved for dancing, toasting or socializing – the activities that fill photo albums and memory banks.

For the Staal family, which celebrated 23-year-old Jordan's wedding this past weekend, that time was filled with both shock and excitement as everyone at the reception learned that former Pittsburgh Penguin Jordan had been traded to his big brother's team.

For Eric Staal, Carolina's captain, learning the news before having dessert was fitting.

"It was a nice, sweet surprise to me," he told The Insiders Tuesday morning on 620 The Buzz. "The draft was on in the lobby and our agent was down there. It happened, and he pulled myself and Jordan out right away to tell us."

It didn't take long for the news to spread through the crowd, a crowd filled with family members and Penguins, many of whom Jordan became close with in his five years in Pittsburgh.

"It was shocking at first and a little emotional," Eric Staal said Tuesday. "He had a lot of his teammates there enjoying a special day, and knowing he wasn't going to be there next year was a little tough. But once he looked at the big picture, he was excited. It was a cool night – a little hectic, but great."

The hectic schedule will likely continue for Jordan Staal, who will celebrate his nuptials by moving to Raleigh and becoming the third member of his family in the Hurricanes organization. Jared Staal, the youngest of the four Staal brothers, was with the AHL's Charlotte Checkers in 2011-12.

"It's a lot easier (on our parents)," Eric Staal quipped Tuesday. "They love coming down here. They love Raleigh, and now it just gives me another chance to send them to another house when they come down. They don't always have to stay with me."

While it isn't clear how head coach Kirk Muller will incorporate the newest Staal – also a center – into the lineup, Eric Staal said Tuesday that the addition of an "extremely balanced two-way player" makes the Hurricanes better right away.

"We'll have discussions about our lineup and what gives us the best opportunity to win," Eric Staal said. "Having us 1-2 down the middle would be two solid lines, but if they feel we have a better opportunity to win games with me on the wing, I'm happy to do that."

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RE: Staal brothers want to get 'Canes back in playoffs

No matter what happens for the rest of the off season we, at the very least, have some media buzz going for us. I am one that is optimistic that JR is not done though. We probably won't get Parise, Ryan, Nash, or Suter, but there are some other players that could come our way. Now that we have Jordan we are not in as dire need of the 1st tier players.

RE: Staal brothers want to get 'Canes back in playoffs

My two cents worth: Also, just because a team sells out every game and has the big bucks to buy big time players doesn't mean they are going to make it to the playoffs. Look at Toronto. They are sold out for the next twenty years and they have been stinking ever since we knocked them out of the playoffs in 2006. Players have to click together and be comfortable together to be a successful team. That's why teams are constantly trading.

RE: Staal brothers want to get 'Canes back in playoffs

Jimmy go to Capgeek.com to see what I'm talking about. If it was to go down my way, signing Zach for 8 million a year, we would still be 12.3 million under the cap. We could then sign skinner to a 3 or 4 year extension at about 4 million a year and Faulk the say and still be under the cap and have a heck of team for the next 4 years.
- Posted by babedan

I hope you understand now what everyone is saying. We have a budget and we're just about there after we sign J Staal and leave room to sign skinner next year. The only teams up around the cap budget are big market teams that make playoffs every year and sell out every game. not Carolina with its average attendance of 15000 at best and no recent playoff runs. We can probably give up a couple million more and thats it, and no one wants Jussi or Joni for there star scorer.
We'll be just fine next year as long as we pick up whitney or parenteau and the Staals,skinner,Ruutu and Ward don't have junk years.
- Posted by Jimmytwotimes

I don't see JR opening up his wallet too wide after getting Jordan either. I caught the tail end of JR on the DG show today, and they were joking about getting Whitney back, but the way JR responded, I wouldn't count on that either. I'd LOVE to see the Wizard back on the roster! I don't think we'll get Parise, and even Nash and Ryan may be a stretch.

RE: Staal brothers want to get 'Canes back in playoffs

Jimmy go to Capgeek.com to see what I'm talking about. If it was to go down my way, signing Zach for 8 million a year, we would still be 12.3 million under the cap. We could then sign skinner to a 3 or 4 year extension at about 4 million a year and Faulk the say and still be under the cap and have a heck of team for the next 4 years.
- Posted by babedan

I hope you understand now what everyone is saying. We have a budget and we're just about there after we sign J Staal and leave room to sign skinner next year. The only teams up around the cap budget are big market teams that make playoffs every year and sell out every game. not Carolina with its average attendance of 15000 at best and no recent playoff runs. We can probably give up a couple million more and thats it, and no one wants Jussi or Joni for there star scorer.
We'll be just fine next year as long as we pick up whitney or parenteau and the Staals,skinner,Ruutu and Ward don't have junk years.

RE: Staal brothers want to get 'Canes back in playoffs

The Kings just won the Stanley Cup as an 8th seed people.....You don't need to spend like drunken sailors to win.

One thing is for sure. You have NO SHOT if you can't even make the playoffs. Staal turned down a LOT of money for the opportunity to play along side of his brother and we could possibly have 2 elite players spend the rest of their careers in Raleigh
- Posted by Return of Finz

The Kings making the playoffs as the 8th seed has no bearing on 1) how much money they spend on payroll or 2) that they were a poor team that squeaked into the playoffs. Kings have a very nice roster and rode a hot goalie in Quick..... much like Ward got hot for us in 2006. I don't know salary numbers, but I would doubt the Kings are at the bottom of the payroll ledger.

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