THN.com/podcast. From THN On The 'A': AHL All-Star Teams, Ridly Greig and Hurricanes Jordan Staal [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk4OTAxMTUxNzU4ODIwNzE1/usatsi_20437511.jpg] Jordan Staal A busy weekend in the hockey world just got busier. The Carolina Hurricanes were the latest team to get in on the action, announcing on Sunday [https://twitter.com/Canes/status/1672983321721159686?s=20] the club has agreed to terms with forward Jordan Staal on a four-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $2.9 million. The team also noted the contract contains a full no-move clause for the first three seasons and a full no-trade clause for the final season. The deal now keeps Staal in Carolina through the 2026-27 season and ensures that the beloved captain won't hit the free-agent market on July 1 as he was poised to do. The Hurricanes now have 16 players on their active roster with about $23.7 million in cap space. It's a very palatable deal for a player with plenty left in the tank. Staal might not be an offensive force anymore, but the 34-year-old still managed to chip in with 17 goals and 17 assists for 34 points in 81 games last season, with 32 points coming at even strength. He is also still a remarkably effective defensive center who can handle difficult matchups in all situations. Not to mention, Staal is a maestro in the faceoff circle, winning 55.7 percent of his draws in 2022-23 and driving play at a dazzling clip despite starting a good chunk of his shifts in the offensive zone. Four years might be a sizable amount of term to give a player set to hit his mid-30s, but Staal's salary is manageable on a year-to-year basis and should continue to look team-friendly as the cap rises in the coming seasons.
