New Jersey Devils: 5 Remaining Free Agents Worth A Shot
By Nick Villano
Eric Staal
Eric Staal was surprisingly traded to Minnesota last year straight up for Marcus Johansson. He ended up playing 32 games in Buffalo before he was traded to Montreal midseason. He wasn’t great in either situation, but he was much better in the playoffs for the Canadiens’ run to the Stanley Cup Final. Staal finished the playoffs with the fifth-best CF% on the team, He was fourth in the high-danger chance for percentage.
Staal isn’t going to light up the score sheet no matter where he goes. If a legitimate Stanley Cup contender came calling, he would have signed by now. If Staal wants to find a spot, he needs to just pick one. If the Devils come calling, it’s an interesting match.
Staal would bring the Devils a legitimate bottom-six center who could run whichever line Lindy Ruff wanted him to. His veteran presence would help keep Miles Wood even-keeled, or he could help lead a youngster like Alexander Holtz or Marian Studenic.
This is a Devils team that actually has some expectations. There aren’t a lot of players on the team that are used to it. Staal needs to find a place where he can just play a role and lead the young guys. What better place to do it than on the Devils?