Red Wings acquire defenseman Marc Staal, second-round pick from Rangers

The benefits of having plenty of salary cap space include being able to bail out a team that is up against the cap and in return getting assets for now and later.

The Detroit Red Wings acquired defenseman Marc Staal and a second-round pick in 2021 from the New York Rangers Saturday for future considerations.

Staal, 33, is entering the final year of his contract at $5.7 million (his actual salary is $3.2 million). The Red Wings have ample cap space. Now they have three-second picks in 2021 in addition to three in this year’s draft (Oct. 6-7). Overall, they have 10 selections in each of the next two drafts.

“The trade accomplishes a couple things,” Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman said. “One, as part of our rebuilding process, we’re trying to add draft picks, prospects, young players and future assets to help us down the line. But we also we have to ice a team. We’re trying to be competitive, we trying to improve at the same time. In this deal not only do we get a defenseman who’ll go right into our lineup, that plugs a huge hole for us, but we add future assets as well.”

Staal (6-4, 209) appeared in 52 games this past season, picking up two goals, nine assists and 16 penalty minutes, with a plus-5 rating.

Yzerman confirmed that veteran defensemen Jonathan Ericsson and Trevor Daley will not return. Staal joins Danny DeKeyser, Patrik Nemeth and if he makes the roster, Dennis Cholowski, as the team’s left-shot defensemen.

“We’re looking to fill spots on the left and right sides; Marc Staal fits in nicely on the left side,” Yzerman said. “He’s a good, solid defender, good size, he’s been in the league a long time, he’s a good penalty killer, so he plugs a hole for us on the back end.”

The 12th overall selection in the 2005 draft, Staal has played his entire 13-year career with the Rangers, appearing in 892 games, collecting 43 goals and 145 assists and posting a plus-46 rating.

Yzerman said the Red Wings are in a position to add more salary for teams looking to clear cap space. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the cap, which was expected to raise, will remain flat at $81.5 million for 2020-21 and perhaps longer.

“We have cap space, we have roster spots to fill, (but) we have to be careful … you can get to the cap very quickly, but we’re in a position to potentially do future deals like this, if they come along,” Yzerman said. “They don’t happen a lot.

“There’s so much uncertainty in the league right now. We don’t really know when we’re starting, what the landscape is going to look like next year. For the Red Wings, we do have cap space, we can use it. I hope to use it wisely but one way we would like to try to use it is to acquire future assets should any teams be in a position where they have to move contracts and don’t have any other options. Nobody wants to give up picks or prospects, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do to make your team better. We’re trying to add picks or prospects and at the same time ice a team.”

The Red Wings’ decision to not re-sign Ericsson and Daley was expected. Both are 36 and battled through injuries the past couple of seasons.

Ericsson, 36, was the last player selected in the 2002 draft (291st overall). He played his entire NHL career with the Red Wings, appearing in 680 games (27 goals, 98 assists). He was waived on multiple occasions this past season, playing in only 18 games for Detroit and 10 for the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Daley, who the Red Wings signed to a three-year contract in 2017 as a free agent, had no goals and seven assists in 43 games in 2019-20.

More: Sam Gagner eager to show Red Wings what he can bring

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.