According to reports from every hockey insider on Twitter, the Canes on Sunday finally made the move that had been anticipated for some time, trading their captain to the New York Rangers in exchange for Finnish prospect Aleksi Saarela and two second round draft picks.
Staal, 31, had served as the Canes' captain for the past six years, assuming the mantle from Rod Brind'Amour on January 20, 2010. In his six years as captain, the Canes underwent near-continual upheaval, cycling through three coaches while failing to make the playoffs in any of those seasons.
Despite the challenges, Staal grew into the role.