Ward: Canes would be "apprehensive" to move Eric Staal

Aaron Ward was on TSN 1040 Wednesday morning.

On if he could see Eric Staal ever agreeing to a trade from the Carolina Hurricanes:

“No. And if it ever happens, I could see it happening to one team – he’s from Thunder Bay. I’m sure he grew up at some point, inexplicably, a Leafs fan, but that would be something for him that maybe he wants to go to a different market where – obviously it’s not lost on anybody it’s a polar opposite market to come to Toronto and be the epicentre of everything. Where in Carolina, one of the redeeming parts about being in Carolina is you’re allowed to live your life and you play your sport and yes, there’s definitely some loyalty from the fan base, but you’re not playing under a microscope like you are in Toronto.

“And I can’t envision Eric Staal at this point saying to himself, and you’d have to be really frustrated as the captain of the team to say, ‘I give. I give up.’ It’s not in his nature. His brother is also there. Which, you’ve got to know there’s that relationship he has with his brother and he’ll want to stick around and establish something still with Jordan.

“And there’s just something about living there. He’s now past the stage of being a young guy and caring most about being the focal point of the media or being an All-Star. He has kids. He’s married. He loves his life in Carolina.

“So, I mean, it’s tough. He has a no-move clause, so he’d have to waive it. I just don’t see it happening right now.

“And here’s the other in discussions. This issue came up and I talked to a few people in the organization and they’d be apprehensive to make the move too because they understand how difficult it is to find a guy to fit a market, fit a team, and be a star. And you don’t find stars. And Eric Staal has that ring on his finger. He’s the captain of the team. There’s been a long-standing relationship between him and the fan base. Once you move on that face of the franchise, especially in a market like that, it’s tough to find and tough for everybody.

“They went through it with Ron Francis. They moved him to Toronto. And then they kept searching for that guy. Now Staal came in, but he was young. Rod Brind’Amour was our captain, but Roddie was not that polarizing of a guy that really drives you in. He goes about his business, not big on words, and he came to Carolina at a different stage of his career, where the Carolina Hurricanes fans have grown up with Eric Staal.

“So I find it hard to see this happening anytime soon. If at all.”

Source: TSN 1040/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey