Minnesota Wild: 5 burning questions for 2018-19 season

4. Eric Staal?

Despite not being a Wild fan, I am a fan of Eric Staal. Living in Carolina since the Hurricanes have moved here will do that to you. I even have an Eric Staal Hurricanes jersey and wear it to every Canes game — except when they play the Avs — to show that I’m a longtime fan. Also, I’m too cheap to buy an updated jersey. $150 gets me 15 months of Netflix, which is a much better use of my money than a jersey I’d wear three or four times a year.

Now, I am a bit bitter that Staal is enjoying a career resurgence in Minnesota. This is a guy who didn’t look like he belonged in the league in his last season in Carolina. Alright, that’s a bit harsh. He belonged in the league. But he didn’t belong as a top-six player making $8.2 million. Simply put, he quit at the end of his run in Carolina. The Hurricanes went out and traded for his brother and gave Eric everything he ever wanted. In return, he dragged them to the state of mediocrity they currently reside in. Not to be confused with the State of Hockey. 

Fair credit to Minnesota. They took a mild risk in the 2016 offseason, signing him to a three-year deal for $10.5 million. In no way did he look like he deserved the kind of term given the way he played for the Hurricanes and Rangers in 2015-16. He’s rewarded them with 70 goals and 141 points in two seasons. Seeing as he’s now in a contract year, he should be in for another 60-plus point season.

Then, at the tender age of 34, Minnesota can make the grave mistake of paying him $7.5 million.