Brandon Sutter
Carolina fans will ask the question “Why does a team have to give up a lot to get a good player?” Well, the Hurricanes certainly did give up a lot. The Penguins selected Derrick Pouliot, a defenseman from Portland in the Western Hockey League, as the 8th pick.
Carolina has given up a decent center in Sutter for Staal, who in all honesty, does not appear to be that much of an upgrade from the fans perspective. Sutter is definitely durable and has not missed a game for Carolina the past two seasons. He scored 32 points last season and 29 the season before.
Jordan will be joining his older brother Eric in Carolina. He played in 62 of Pittsburgh’s 82 regular season games. In their first round play-off loss against Philadelphia, Staal scored six goals and had three assists
It was while Jordan Staal was marrying his fiancée Heather in Thunder Bay, Ontario that he received news of the trade to Carolina. Earlier in the week Staal had turned down a 10-year contract offer from Pittsburgh. He had one year to run on his current contract, but when he sat down with Pittsburgh’s General Manager Ray Shero, they could not come to an agreement.
Jordan Staal, like his brother Eric, was a second round draft pick. Jordan was drafted in 2009 and Eric in 2006. Staal will be 24 in September. During his time in Pittsburgh this last season Staal had 50 points, 25 goals and 25 assists.
With one year left on Jordan Staal’s contract, the Hurricanes could have waited and signed him as a free agent next year. So the discussion will continue for some time I am sure. Was it a good trade? Only time will tell. Fans in Carolina are sorry to see Brandon Sutter move on. He is an excellent player and one that will develop even further by playing in Pittsburgh. This trade is one that at least one Carolina Hurricanes fan would love to take back.
Contact the author at Eddie.Mitchell@ProHockeyNews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.