As the Feb. 29 NHL Trade Deadline approaches the future of Carolina Hurricanes captain Eric Staal remains murky.
The veteran forward is a pending unrestricted free agent with a no-trade clause. Sportsnet’s Damien Cox reported during the Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada that Staal has not waived his no-trade nor has he been asked to. Also, there have been no contract talks between the two sides of late.
Staal has spent his entire NHL career with the Hurricanes who selected him second overall in the 2003 NHL Draft but the 31-year-old hinted several days ago that he would be open to a change.
“I’m not going to be crushed if a decision is made and I’m moving on for a different opportunity,” Staal said. “Decisions are going to have to be made. I haven’t been approached about waiving [my no-move clause] at this point.”