Eric Staal to Wild: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

Veteran forward Eric Staal signed a three-year, $10.5 million deal with the Minnesota Wild on Friday, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie. 

Mike Johnston of Sportsnet later confirmed the deal, which is worth $3.5 million annually.

Staal, who seemed destined to be a career Hurricane, spent the first 11-plus years of his time in the NHL with Carolina before it dealt him to the New York Rangers in February for two draft picks and Finnish prospect Aleksi Saarela. 

The 31-year-old's best offensive days look to be behind him after he put up just 13 goals last season. His time in New York didn't bear much fruit, as he recorded just three goals and three assists in 20 games—a far cry from his expectations of helping the Rangers win their first Stanley Cup since 1994, per Larry Brooks of the New York Post: 

"

[The Rangers] have a history here, they’re an experienced group and they’ve been able to go a long way the last few years. But they haven’t finished off the job. 

I think with my experience, I can help them do that. My first couple of weeks here, I was doing a lot of observing and listening and trying to find my niche. 

Now, I feel very comfortable with the dynamic on and off the ice. If I have something constructive to add, I’ll speak up.

"

Instead, the Stanley Cup-winning Pittsburgh Penguins eliminated the Rangers in five games during the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. It was an underwhelming finish for a team that had made the conference final in three of the past four seasons.

However, Staal was regularly on New York's third line with the likes of Kevin Hayes and Jesper Fast, who aren't the most skilled players. He still showed flashes of the playmaker who was a four-time All-Star, though, via NBCSN:

As an aging star who has scored at least 30 goals five times and hit the 40 mark twice, Staal needs to work with more than that if he wants to see his numbers pick back up. That's what Minnesota is hoping to provide for him.

It is unclear where Staal will fit in the lineup, but he could potentially be a third-line center behind Mikko Koivu and Mikael Granlund.

Should the Wild opt to utilize him on the wing, though, a top-six role is possible.

Last season was a down year for Staal with just 39 points, but he posted 23 goals and 54 points the year before and has crossed the 70-point threshold on seven occasions during his career.

Staal also has plenty of playoff experience and is a former Stanley Cup champion with the Hurricanes, so nabbing the veteran pivot at a reasonable cap number could prove to be a major coup for a Wild team that has struggled to make noise in the playoffs.

Stats courtesy of Hockey-Reference.com.