Hurricanes Want Staals to Play on Same Line

The Sedin twins play together on the same line in Vancouver and we all know how dangerous of a combo that is. Now we will have to see if the same is true for the Staal bros.

Kirk Muller said he wants to experiment during training camp and preseason to see if the chemistry between Eric and Jordan Staal is there.

Muller got a chance to speak with Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News and Observer about Carolina’s potential top line. “Lots of times, until you put guys together … you know, you’ve got to get a feel for it. I know they have a little history from before. But I think it makes sense right now to start off with them and see how they work together.”

The Carolina Hurricanes are well aware that Eric and Jordan played together briefly on Team Canada in 2007 for the World Championships. Both Staals primarily played center throughout their hockey careers, however Eric did play wing for Team Canada during the 2010 Winter Olympics and he has a gold medal to prove it.

They gave up a quality player in Brandon Sutter plus two more prospects to get Pittsburgh to trade Jordan so there is a lot of pressure that this works. The Hurricanes would reap the rewards if the brothers can prove that they can play at a high level together. Maybe having Jordan skate alongside Eric will push captain Carolina to a new level, or at least that is what everyone in the triangle is hoping.

Whether or not the Staals do in fact stick together on the same line, the Hurricanes will need to address a void in the top two lines. The Canes have about five young forwards who are capable of playing a full season on the third line, but adding one more proven forward would do them wonders.

Free Agency open on July 1 and there are plenty of forwards on the market that would fit the Hurricanes needs on the top two lines.

Also, the Hurricanes and Jordan Staal have already begun discussing a contract extension but President and GM Jim Rutherford did not disclose any specific details of the contract talks.

Staal declined a 10 year deal worth up to $60 million from the Penguins before being traded to the Hurricanes and his brother Eric still has four years remaining on his contract worth $8.25 million a year.