Eric Staal and the Carolina Hurricanes have put contract talks on hold for the time being, according to Sportsnet’s Damien Cox.
Staal is in the final year of a seven-year, $57.75-million deal and wants to wait and see how the Hurricanes do before deciding on whether or not signing an extension would be mutually beneficial to him and the only NHL team he’s known.
The 30-year-old finished 2014-15 with 23 goals and 54 points, his lowest point total in an 82-game season since his rookie campaign. Staal did score the Hurricanes lone goal in a 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predators Thursday.
Staal’s current salary cap hit is $8.25 million – his actual salary is $9.5 million – and he has a no-trade clause.