Confirmed Trade: [MIN/BUF] Marcus Johansson for Eric Staal

[KingsFan7824]

I don't see much downside for Buffalo. Not much upside for Minnesota. I guess if you maybe want to trade Staal, there's only a few places around the Great Lakes near Thunder Bay that he would be ok with going to.

 

[Jugitsu]

I like how you start this reply with “based on what?” And then launch into a ton of opinionated projection, much of which there is no way you’d have any real information about. God bless hfboards.

It's not on an opinion that Staal loved Minnesota. It's not an opinion that Staal under no circumstance didn't want to get traded. It's not an opinion that Staal wanted to retire in Minnesota. He even went out of his way to actively make trading him earlier an impossibility via giving out a no-trade list that consisted of all the viable trade partners ie. contenders looking for help down the middle. He also, according to Russo, was stunned when the trade news broke out. All this is common knowledge at least to those who follow the Wild even remotely.

Based on these facts, I speculated that Staal might not even want to play for any other team. Especially for a bottom feeder like the Sabres. Though he's too much of a professional to back down and not honor the agreement. Still my speculation is based on something, even though it's just an opinion. Which is a big difference compared to the poster I referenced in my post.

 

[LongWayDown37]

It's not on an opinion that Staal loved Minnesota. It's not an opinion that Staal under no circumstance didn't want to get traded. It's not an opinion that Staal wanted to retire in Minnesota. He even went out of his way to actively make trading him earlier an impossibility via giving out a no-trade list that consisted of all the viable trade partners ie. contenders looking for help down the middle. He also, according to Russo, was stunned when the trade news broke out. All this is common knowledge at least to those who follow the Wild even remotely.

Based on these facts, I speculated that Staal might not even want to play for any other team. Especially for a bottom feeder like the Sabres. Though he's too much of a professional to back down and not honor the agreement. Still my speculation is based on something, even though it's just an opinion. Which is a big difference compared to the poster I referenced in my post.

Alrighty

 

[varano]

I thought minny needed centers??

 

[Richard88]

Are Minnesota making room for Anton Lundell to be their 1C as an 19 year old rookie? Or what's the plan here?

 

[Mick Jagr]

Bill Guerin is getting RIPPED in this thread like he's Jim Rutherford dealing for Kasperi Kapanen. Ouch!

 

[biturbo19]

So, what exactly is the "upside" to this, for Minnesota? I mean, i like Johansson...but he's a pretty iffy player with a ton of injury issues, and even on top of that...not as productive and useful as Staal.

Bizarre deal.

 

[The Podium]

I see the reason for Buffalo, confused why Minnesota made this trade.

They get the worse, more expensive, higher cap hit player who plays a position of lower need for them as well as downgrade on leadership. Not to mention Staal was essentially a hometown boy.

 

[tsujimoto74]

I doubt the roster configuration in Buffalo is going to give Staal top 6 C minutes by default. He’ll have to outperform the younger Reinhart. Or injury strikes Eichel and/or Reinhart.

Reinhart's played like 3 games at C in the NHL, none under Krueger, not even when Eichel was hurt. Realistically, Staal's only competition for top 6 minutes is Cozens.

 

[shortfuze]

didnt guerin and russo specifically come out and say they werent trading for more wingers? or did i hear just hear that from some minnesota fans on here? just seems like an odd trade if that was the case.

 

[truthbluth]

The more I think about, the more I'm sure Staal retires rather than move during a pandemic. Adams had to shoot his shot, but Im pretty sure all he's done is get $4.5mill off the books.

 

[TaLoN]

didnt guerin and russo specifically come out and say they werent trading for more wingers? or did i hear just hear that from some minnesota fans on here? just seems like an odd trade if that was the case.

Wild stunner: Eric Staal dealt to Sabres, and the Matt Dumba rumors intensify

The trade, on the surface, is peculiar from one fairly important standpoint.

The 5-foot-11 Johansson has played left wing for most of his career. Guerin says he was acquired to play center.

 

[shortfuze]

Wild stunner: Eric Staal dealt to Sabres, and the Matt Dumba rumors intensify

Makes sense.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Wild stunner: Eric Staal dealt to Sabres, and the Matt Dumba rumors intensify

Well, that's uh..OK. The Sabres acquired him to play center, too. He stunk at it and was back to wing by Halloween.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

When you put it like that I would not be surprised at all if Staal just retired. He just might not be up for that in a season that is going to be covidclusterf***ed anyways.

He really should have negotiated a full no trade clause with the sweatheart deals he gave the Wild.

If he did that and wiped out his cap hit Buffalo would be at about 38 million in cap that might be even better for them in a way

 

[TaLoN]

Well, that's uh..OK. The Sabres acquired him to play center, too. He stunk at it and was back to wing by Halloween.

I didn't say it was smart...I was just answering the question posed...

 

[Jag68Sid87]

It's an interesting trade. One-for-one deals involving two veterans are so rare these days, so it is kinda refreshing.

I don't think Guerin is done, so I will judge this one at the start of 2020-21 because this seems like a precursor trade from the Wild standpoint.

 

[Treb]

The biggest upside for the Wild is that they get 6 year younger.

 

[tsujimoto74]

If he did that and wiped out his cap hit Buffalo would be at about 38 million in cap that might be even better for them in a way

Yeah, this is still a good move for Buffalo even if Staal decides not to report. Johansson wasn't a fit for what we needed, and the end result is we clear $4.5M off our books for nothing.

 

[P10p]

Most of HF doesn't realize that Staal isn't the player they think he is. The man has slowed incredibly over the last year. Painful watching him skate sometimes. Can't imagine he gets any better next year. Johansson is fast and skilled. Being undervalued because a couple rough years.

 

[tsujimoto74]

I didn't say it was smart...I was just answering the question posed...

lol well, when the MoJo at C experiment ends in Minnesota, he could still work out to be a useful utility winger for you guys. His real strength is controlled zone entries (he's pretty average both offensively and defensively), so he could help a line that's always stuck dumping and chasing but not by design.

 

[Techcoockie]

IMO the only reason to do this is that Minnesota is awaiting a #1 and #2 C this summer.

They could go for a big trade for a #1b like Malkin ? and then trade for Domi as #2c ? Guerrin definitely has something up

 

[Techcoockie]

Most of HF doesn't realize that Staal isn't the player they think he is. The man has slowed incredibly over the last year. Painful watching him skate sometimes. Can't imagine he gets any better next year. Johansson is fast and skilled. Being undervalued because a couple rough years.

Yes, but like Thornton Staal has the Hockey IQ to always be well positioned, he will give Buff 2-3 good years at 50p+ still.
and Staal is a machine in Playoff, so it's a big win for Buff

 

[aufheben]

The biggest upside for the Wild is that they get 6 year younger.

Well they actually get like 0.2 years younger lol

 

[SirClintonPortis]

Reinhart's played like 3 games at C in the NHL, none under Krueger, not even when Eichel was hurt. Realistically, Staal's only competition for top 6 minutes is Cozens.

Thanks for setting me straight. Going by stat sheet alone can have its perils.