Rumor: Chicago considering offer for Staal

[HawkeyFanatic]

This would fantastic if Staal wants to take 1.5M and resurrect his career

Sign again for big money next offseason, with a team with Vegas coming in.

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[BK]

Interesting. Can he still skate well?

 

[ChiHawks10]

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Staal sucks a lot now but we don't have any depth so he couldn't hurt if cheap on 3rd line

Wouldn't expect more then 10-15 G and 20-25 A's at most. Would be like Richards 2.0 but not playing with Kane

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

He'd probably play left wing.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

I was under impression he sucked when playing wing for Canes ,, I thought that was what I read on there board this past year

I will have to ask but I thought he was bad at it

 

[HawksFan37]

I would rather take a shot on him over a guy like Vanek if it came to that.

If he's willing to sign on the cheap to try to turn his career around, I'd definitely consider it.

 

[Easton Modano Curve]

Brad Richards 2.0? For one year and cheap I'd say worth a shot.

 

[WJSN]

I simply don't see how this is possible cap-wise without moving someone like Kruger/Seabrook. Unless both Staal and Campbell are okay with 1yr/1mil type deals.

 

[BK]

He would easily replace Shaw's production and it gives the Hawks another versatile forward.

 

[b1e9a8r5s]

If he signs for like 1.5 or something and that fits after signing Soupy, I'm good with it. IF we have to move Kruger or something like that, no thanks.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

He would easily replace Shaw's production and it gives the Hawks another versatile forward.

Not if we get the Rangers version of Eric Staal

God was he awful

 

[BK]

Not if we get the Rangers version of Eric Staal

God was he awful

He was bad but point production wise he was not far off. Kind of shows Shaw was a bit overated at this point.

 

[BobbyJet]

I would rather take a shot on him over a guy like Vanek if it came to that.

If he's willing to sign on the cheap to try to turn his career around, I'd definitely consider it.

Most definitely.... a possible stop gap while the kids mature.

Does anyone else get the impression that this team is going to look a lot different come October?

 

[ChiHawks10]

Most definitely.... a possible stop gap while the kids mature.

Does anyone else get the impression that this team is going to look a lot different come October?

Yes.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Cane fans say he played LW for them but wants to play C

So this would make him option for either Toews/Hossa LW spot or our 3rd line

Either way we have holes in both spots so if he comes cheaply on 1 year deal there really is no risk just like Richards

 

[hockeydoug]

Might be a big break for the Hawks if Staal can't find a team that will pay him and protect him from the expansion draft.

 

[hawksrule]

I would definitely take the gamble on a cheap deal.

 

[hockeydoug]

Cane fans say he played LW for them but wants to play C

So this would make him option for either Toews/Hossa LW spot or our 3rd line

Either way we have holes in both spots so if he comes cheaply on 1 year deal there really is no risk just like Richards

Put him at 2C with Kane and Panarin. They're used to losing faceoffs anyway. Let Anisimov solidify the 3C slot and keep Kruger at 4C where he'll be most effective. Gamble at the wings and the blueline. I'm inclined to trust Staal in an offensive role in the spring more than I would trust Campbell in a defensive one.

I'm not a big Staal fan, but I like him more than Ladd because he can still finish. If they're going to spend 2.5-3.5 million on discounted vet, I would want to give Staal the right of first refusal.

 

[Hawkaholic]

IMO, he would be better than Richards was in 2015.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

I'm going to be very let down if this doesn't happen now.

Thanks guys.

 

[JaegerDice]

Staal can still skate, though not as fast as he used to. He's probably about as fast or a bit slower than AA by my eyes.

He's still a great player. Here's a good summation from the trade deadline.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/just-how-good-is-eric-staal-right-now/


He wasn't great in NYR, but nobody was. Literally nobody on that team played well except Lundqvist in large part because their D could NEVER get the puck up to their forwards. They were a trash possession team. Assuming the Blackhawks stay at even the middling possession they had last season, you'll see better from Staal.

 

[SAADfather]

If we can get him <2mil , I'm all for it.

Toews
Staal
Anismov
Kruger

Thats some damn good center depth. As said before, he would most likely be better than Richards in 2015, which I think we would all agree was some good value for 2mil. I would also love to see a Panik - Anismov - Hossa third line.

 

[JaegerDice]

If we can get him <2mil , I'm all for it.

Toews
Staal
Anismov
Kruger

Thats some damn good center depth. As said before, he would most likely be better than Richards in 2015, which I think we would all agree was some good value for 2mil. I would also love to see a Panik - Anismov - Hossa third line.

Honestly, I think Panik-Staal-Hossa would wreck as a 3rd line.

Anisimov meshes well with Kane and Panarin.

Whatever, it's Q. If Staal does sign, he's going to bounce around the lineup a fair bit.

 

[massey1984]

If they could get him for $1-1.25 mil why not? He was very solid on face-offs, which is something the Hawks need to improve on.

Panik-Toews-Kane
Panarin-Anisimov-Hartman
Motte/Hinostroza-Staal-Hossa
Rasmussen-Kruger-Desjardins