Eric Staal has a 10-team no-trade list in his contract, and he's taking full advantage of it.
The Minnesota Wild forward is an unrestricted free agent after this season, but his no-trade list is "vastly populated with all the obvious contenders," TSN's Pierre LeBrun said on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading."
Without a contract beyond this season, non-contenders won't be looking to acquire Staal, giving Wild general manager Paul Fenton limited options if he chooses to shop the veteran forward ahead of the Feb. 25 trade deadline.
Earlier Thursday, The Athletic's Michael Russo reported that Fenton was given the green light to trade members of the team's core, including Charlie Coyle, Mikael Granlund, Jason Zucker, and Jonas Brodin, even if it means ultimately missing the postseason.
Staal was adamant about his willingness to stay in Minnesota following Thursday's practice.
"The way I see it: We're in a playoff spot, and I plan on making the playoffs … here," Staal told Russo. "My goal is to be here - hopefully not somewhere else - and to help us win a playoff spot and continue on."
Staal's only other trade deadline experience wasn't pleasant. In 2016, he was shipped from the Carolina Hurricanes to the New York Rangers and picked up just six points in 20 games with the Blueshirts, ending the worst season of his career on a sour note.
The 34-year-old is one year removed from a 42-goal campaign and has tallied 17 goals and 37 points in 56 games thus far this season.
