Eric Staal joining Minnesota Wild on three-year contract

Eric Staal did not get as much or as long a deal as expected as he came to terms with the Minnesota Wild for three-years and $10.5 million dollars total.

Eric Staal has signed a three-year contract with the Minnesota Wild.

The deal is worth a total of $10.5 million, which translates to a $3.5-million annual salary cap hit.

“I’m super excited…I have this opportunity to play with a good a group, and one that expects to win,” Staal told reporters on a conference call before adding he’s excited to possibly play on a line with Zach Parise. “I feel like our games can mesh well. I have the same work ethic and drive as he does.”

Staal, 31, had spent the first 909 game of his career with the Carolina Hurricanes — the team that drafted him second overall in 2003 — before being traded to the New York Rangers in late February ahead of the trade deadline. He had six points in 20 games with the Rangers but went pointless in five playoff games.

In 929 regular season career NHL games, Staal has 325 goals, 456 assists and 680 penalty minutes plus 43 points in 48 playoff games. Staal helped lead Carolina to a Stanley Cup victory in 2006.

The Wild also added Chris Stewart and Alex Stalock Friday.

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