Friedman: Canes, Leafs may not be match on Eric Staal trade

Elliotte Friedman was on 630 CHED Friday afternoon.

On the Carolina Hurricanes:

“I believe that before the season, they kind of looked at it and said, ‘Let’s see where we are in December and then we can make that decision.’ We’re ahead of that now. I mean, they’re really off to a tough start. I think you’re at a point now where you’re starting to look around and say, ‘Okay, what is available here and what, if we want to put our assets out there, what is available for them.’

“And I think there’s going to be some interesting ones. The guy who gets no attention, he’s not really known across the NHL, but I understand teams are really checking out Sekera the defenseman. He had 44 points last year. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent at the age of 29. He’s a piece that has some value.

Related: Friedman on Staal, Sekera, and Canes' future

Related: Friedman on concern over Skinner's concussions

“I know Calgary offered to take a look at Cam Ward last year if Carolina included their first round draft pick. The Huricanes didn’t want to do that. But I wonder if they kind of revisit that kind of a situation.

“And the one that we all kind of know about is Eric Staal. He’s got two years left under contract. But I think – at least when Jim Rutherford was the general manager, I think they at least put feelers out. Like, if Eric Staal was available, what is the interest here. What’s the market value. And I think there were some teams – I think Toronto would be one. I think St. Louis would be one. That would have had those kinds of conversations.

“And now I think it’s simply a matter of Eric has full control over this situation. What does he want to do? I think you’re keeping your Justin Faulks and your Ryan Murphys and you’re rebuilding around those guys, but I think the process probably gets accelerated a bit Bob in terms of when you want to make the decision.”

On if the Leafs would be one of the teams interested in Eric Staal:

“Toronto I think would absolutely be one. But I wonder what the match is there. I’m not convinced the Hurricanes have a lot of interest in either Tyler Bozak or Nazem Kadri. So if that’s the case, and my information is that’s the case, then I think that makes it a harder deal to make.”

Source: 630 CHED/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey