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Thu Sep 11, 2008 1:26 pm EDT

Hurricanes put Eric Staal into a rather lofty new tax bracket

By Greg Wyshynski

While Carolina Hurricanes fans are awaiting a press conference on Eric Staal's long-term deal with the franchise this afternoon, ESPN is reporting that it's "a seven-year contract extension with Carolina worth between $56 million and $60 million."

If that's accurate, then these stats combined with impending restricted free agency are good enough to make one an $8 million-a-year player (on average) in the NHL. Some are celebrating the "face of the franchise" getting locked in. Can't say we disagree ... but for $8 million and change annually, another 100-point season in the next seven years sure would be dandy.

UPDATE: The final tally -- seven years, $57.75 million. Only four players made over $8.25 million last season.

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15 Comments

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  1. Joe J
    1. Posted by Joe J Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:38 pm EDT

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    He is identified as a great young player but has 70 and 82 points in the last two seasons since his 100 point season. They (the entire NHL) will have to live with this summer's signing frenzy and its consequences for a long time.
  2. Hank
    2. Posted by Hank Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:23 pm EDT

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    You'd think the girl would be a little nicer and put his first name on the marry me sign. oh women...sigh.
  3. Hank
    3. Posted by Hank Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:23 pm EDT

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    You'd think the girl would be a little nicer and put his first name on the marry me sign. oh women...sigh.
  4. Wyshynski
    4. Posted by Wyshynski Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:21 pm EDT

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    @ Hank
    She's saving herself for Jordan anyway.
  5. # huit
    5. Posted by # huit Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:33 pm EDT

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    that's actually handy, she doesn't have to make three of those signs (i'm kinda almost sure there is third staal somewhere...)
  6. Curt S
    6. Posted by Curt S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    Consistency - that's what this team needs. Love this move though - lock up the best player on the team long term. They had to move Stahl around so often last year that it was hard to develop chemistry with a particular line. Hopefully the Canes don't get the injury bug that they used to get.
  7. Matt
    7. Posted by Matt Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    Wow.
    Hey, Southeast Division? Giving insane contracts to your stars (Ovie excluded) is not the way to get butts in the seats. Not when the rest of your team sucks due to those few big contracts.
    Yeah, Carolina and Tampa - I'm looking at you!
  8. loser domi
    8. Posted by loser domi Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:40 pm EDT

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    hank and wyshsynski: i think there is a fourth running around, but in junior leagues. he's probably underage anyway, so it's not like i could do anything with him..
    /wait, what?
  9. ChuckV
    9. Posted by ChuckV Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:16 pm EDT

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    @ jesuisdanslamerde
    HEY, WE HAVE MARC, HE WAS OUR BEST DEFENSEMAN DOWN THE STRETCH LAST YEAR!
    Will the Staal brothers end up being the highest paid set of brothers in the history of sports? What about in the history of entertainment? What if you adjust the Marx brothers for inflation? Can they beat out the Jonas brothers when all is said and done?
  10. blueeyes_greeneyes
    10. Posted by blueeyes_greeneyes Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:09 pm EDT

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    There is a third Staal, yes: Marc Staal, defenseman for the New York Rangers. And there's a fourth actually; Jared Staal was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes this year. He's not expected to hit the NHL for a couple years though
  11. Hyphen
    11. Posted by Hyphen Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:24 pm EDT

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    Good for Staal, he deserves every penny of it. I am hoping he carries the Canes back to the playoffs this year.
  12. Chris
    12. Posted by Chris Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    For $57.75 M you should get all the Staal brothers as a package.....and maybe throw in the Sedins. Somewhere, there are Sutters cursing the fact that they came to the NHL a couple decades too soon.
  13. Michigander21
    13. Posted by Michigander21 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

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    He is a very good player, but I would be concerned about the salary cap. With that kid of cap commitment, what will the Canes not be able to sign or keep when it really counts? Players should take a lesson from Alex Ovechkin, he signed long term, for less, with the express reason that it allows the team to build around him.
  14. TYLER A
    14. Posted by TYLER A Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:25 pm EDT

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    Michigander21 how can you say Ovechkin signed for less!? 124Mil for 13 years is like 9.5 mil per!! Also 7 yrs is perfect. The NHLs insurance policy will only cover the player for the first 7 years of a contract. If Ovechkin suffers a career ending injury after his 7th year the Capitals are on the hook for the rest of his salary. Look at DP in NY he signed for like 15 years and has had like 2-3 concussions (I think) and some other major injury and hes only heading into his 3 year of the contract. Also Curt S. Were talkin about Eric STAAL not the Stahl you use to cut down trees. GO CANES
  15. Rumpelstilzchen
    15. Posted by Rumpelstilzchen Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    you pay for inflation, so it's not fair to compare with existing salaries. I think the Canes did good. Hopefully they adopt the new logo full time instead of the toilet bowl. When they move to KC, they can change to the Tornadoes and keep the logo.

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