Staal has an afforadable contract
When Detroit first acquired Staal, the Red Wings obtained him and were able to absorb his $5.7M cap hit. When he became an UFA last summer, the Red Wings signed him to a more reasonable $2.0M. Staal will once again be an UFA this summer.
The biggest obstacle facing the Red Wings is Staal’s NMC. In order for the Red Wings to trade Staal before Monday’s deadline, he must agree to the move. Staal has indicated that if the right trade came along, he would entertain a move to another team.