Report: The Staal Brothers Aren't Done Yet

 

Eric Staal and Marc Staal both want to continue their NHL careers, according to Pierre LeBrun. They each are pending UFAs who could end up hitting the market. LeBrun also notes that they each could re-sign with their current teams, too. 

Eric Staal and Marc Staal, both UFAs, each want to play next season. Believe there will be options on the market for both. Door isn't closed on Detroit, either for Marc, or on Montreal for Eric.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 23, 2021

Eric Staal spent last season originally with the Buffalo Sabres, but was then shipped out to the Montreal Canadiens before the trade deadline. In 53 games this season, the 36-year-old center scored five goals and recorded 13 points. He was a key player for the Canadiens during the postseason, as he had eight points in 21 games while playing bottom-six minutes. He became a true leader in the locker room for them, so perhaps bringing him back on a cheap one-year deal could work nicely. 

After spending the first 13 years of his NHL career with the New York Rangers, Marc Staal was traded to the Detroit Red Wings before the start of this season. In his first year with the Red Wings, he played 56 games, scoring three goals and compiling 10 total points. Like his brother Eric, Marc was praised for great leadership abilities on the rebuilding Detroit squad. He is also still a serviceable bottom-pair defenseman at the NHL level.

If these two hit the market together, maybe they could sign on the same team. Perhaps they could even reunite with Jordan Staal and sign league-minimum deals with the Carolina Hurricanes. Eric sure has a lot of history with the franchise. 

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