Chuck Fletcher has opened free agency by addressing the teams biggest need, and added big-bodied center Eric Staal. The 6'4" former captain comes to Minnesota after spending his career with the Carolina organization which ended in a brief cup of coffee with the Rangers after the trade deadline last season. Perhaps the most surprising part of the deal is that Fletcher was able to negotiate what seems to be a fair deal, with Staal receiving appropriate term at 3 years and appropriate cost of $3.5M. This comes as somewhat of a shock as reports surfaced that Staal was seeking a deal in the neighborhood of $5M-$6M over 4 years, so it seems that the Wild did about as well as the could have on the deal.
Wild Sign Eric Staal for 3 years, $3.5M AAV
