One way or another, Eric Staal's future with the Carolina Hurricanes will be decided in the coming months, or maybe even weeks.
For now, the longtime captain and face of the franchise is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end. Staal's agent and the club have yet to enter contract negotiations and the NHL's trade deadline is fast approaching.
With that cloud hanging over his head, Staal is trying not to let his uncertain future interfere with his focus on the ice.
"It’s been more challenging than I thought it would be, but I’m doing my best," Staal told Luke DeCock of the News & Observer. "Doing my best to contribute and try and help this team win and play hard. I have a family. There’s things you think about. My brother’s playing here. There are a lot of different things you think about.
"You try not to worry about it too much, and play, and hopefully we can get on a little bit of a run here and go from there and let it sort itself out. We’ll see what happens."
Staal has recorded eight goals and 18 assists through 43 games, and is on pace for 50 points on the season, his lowest output since his rookie year.
With a Stanley Cup far in the rear-view mirror and only one trip to the playoffs since that championship run of 2006, the question remains whether Staal is part of the long-term solution, or if the Hurricanes are ready to move on.
For his part, he's encouraged about the progress being made under general manger Ron Francis and head coach Bill Peters, and wants to be a contributing member of a winning club in Carolina.
"Any normal guy would like to not worry about it, especially just the way life goes. At the same time, there’s nothing more I can do," Staal said. "I just have to play. We have to win. We’ll go from there. We’ll see what happens.
"I like this group. I like these kids on (defense). They’re legit. We can build going forward. They’ve done a good job, Ronnie and Bill. This is near where they’ve been trying to get to, and we still have to get there."
Heading into Tuesday's game against Pittsburgh, the Hurricanes sit four points out of a wild-card spot, with four teams to jump to land one.
