Cole trade hits Staal hard

Hurricanes are working to extend star center's contract

RALEIGH -- As Wednesday morning dawned, Eric Staal was still trying to come to terms with a day of significant change.

Erik Cole, his roommate for five years with the Carolina Hurricanes, had been dealt away Tuesday and the two had an emotional telephone conversation Tuesday afternoon after learning of the trade.

"Obviously, I'm very close to Erik," Staal said. "I've been good friends with him since the moment I came into the league. He was one of those guys who was there my first year and he did anything to help out as a friend and roommate. Along the way we became very close.

"When you develop a friendship with someone, to see them get traded is tough. It was hard for me to hear but it's part of the game, part of the business and you have to kind of move forward I guess."

The good news for Staal is that moving forward could include a new contract before the summer is out. Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said that with Tuesday's Cole-for-Joni Pitkanen trade and four other re-signings complete, a contract extension for Staal is the "top priority" on his agenda.

First, though, the Hurricanes had other contracts to attend to Wednesday. They locked up the offensive-minded Pitkanen to a three-year, $12 million contract and signed defense-oriented free agent Josef Melichar to a one-year, $1 million contract to fill out their defense.

Pitkanen will make $3.5 million this season, $4 million in 2009-10 and $4.5 million in 2010-11, making him Carolina's highest-paid defenseman by a wide margin. Efforts to reach Pitkanen's agent, Larry Kelly, were unsuccessful Wednesday.

"It gives us a little relief this year," Rutherford said. "Of course, it goes up. The good thing is it's a three-year contract and one of those years is [Pitkanen's first unrestricted free agent year]. We know we have Joni for three years. That's the important thing."

Melichar spent last season in Sweden and his native Czech Republic after spending the previous six seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he had 40 points in 310 NHL games. At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, he gives the Canes another big body on the blue line.

"We feel we needed a defensive player, more of a [Glen] Wesley-type player after losing [Wesley]," Rutherford said. "He's got experience in the league and if he plays the way he's capable, he's a safe player. He can play in a lot of situations and play the defensive side of the game."

The Canes now have seven defensemen under contract and one restricted free agent, Dennis Seidenberg. That could lead to a salary-dump trade before training camp opens, as the Hurricanes are now almost $2 million over their $45 million budget with Seidenberg and Chad LaRose still unsigned.

With Joe Corvo, Pitkanen, Matt Cullen and Anton Babchuk to man the power-play points, Frantisek Kaberle could be the odd man out. Niclas Wallin, who exercised his no-trade clause last summer when the Canes tried to trade him, could also end up on the block.

"We will look at moving a defenseman now," Rutherford said.

While negotiations with Pitkanen are finished, there's nothing on the table yet for Staal.

Tuesday was the first day teams could negotiate extensions with players whose contracts are expiring. Staal will make $5 million this season in the final year of his deal and can become a restricted free agent next summer, in line for a contract in the $7 million range

Staal has missed only one game in four NHL seasons, recording 252 points over the past three and leading the NHL in postseason scoring in 2006 with 28 points in 25 games.

"I don't think this is something that should be rushed through. It's something that can be walked through," Rutherford said. "He's under contract for another year. We know he's our franchise player. We want to do this right, what's right for him and what's right for us.

"So even though it's a top priority, it's not something that's going to get done in the next week or the next month, but we will continue to work on it."

Whenever the Hurricanes are ready to talk, Staal said he's willing to listen.

"I love being here," Staal said. "I think we've got successful group. We obviously need to get back to the playoffs. I felt last year we had a great team and the year before as well. I feel we have a group here to win again and I want to be a part of that."