The NHL Trade Deadline is two days away and so far Detroit General Manager Steve Yzerman has been very quiet. According to many news outlets, the only Red Wings players that are safe are Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond. With seven impending UFA’s, Yzerman will likely make a splash at some point after the Seattle game tonight and before the 3:00 PM ET deadline.
Here is a look at why Marc Staal might be dealt by the Red Wings.
Defensively Solid
Marc Staal was drafted by the New York Rangers 12th overall in 2005. When he was drafted, it certainly wasn’t because of his offensive exploits from the blueline. In 65 regular season games during his draft year, Staal scored an underwhelming six goals. During his 15 seasons in the NHL, Staal has only scored over 20 points during two campaigns.
Staal has been a very good defensive defenseman at the NHL level. In just over 1,000 games, Staal has a +51 rating. His best season took place in 2014-15 when he was +18. Despite playing against some of the best players in the NHL, Staal has displayed a strong sense of presence on the ice. This season, Staal currently leads Detroit with a +10 rating.