Hurricanes, Eric Staal play contract extension waiting game

As the clock quietly ticks toward the NHL trade deadline, Eric Staal's name dangles as an intriguing possibility, especially as a soon-to-be unrestricted free agent.

The Carolina Hurricanes captain would like to re-sign with the only NHL club he's played for, but no deadline has been set and both sides appear to be waiting it out for the time being.

"It could be in the next month or two, I don't know," Staal said Thursday on Sportsnet's Hockey Central in regards to when a deal could get done. "There’s other guys in the league in the same situation as me. It’ll work itself out, and whatever way it goes, we'll continue on."

A Stanley Cup winner in his second season, Staal has been to the NHL playoffs only once since 2006, a definite source of frustration.

"It’s been challenging. I’m not going to lie. You play in this game to be in the playoffs and try to win the Stanley Cup," he said. "I got to experience that early and haven't a lot since then. It's been extremely difficult."

Staal, 31, is in the final year of a deal that carries a cap hit of $8.25 million. In 18 games, he's recorded four goals and 12 assists, while his Hurricanes will be hard-pressed to challenge for a postseason spot in a very competitive Metropolitan Division.