Canes announce new Staal contract

RALEIGH -- The Carolina Hurricanes and star center Eric Staal have signed a seven-year contract that will pay the All-Star an average of $8.25 million a year, the team announced today.

The deal is worth a total of $57.75 million. It begins in the 2009-10 season and extends through 2015-16.

"This won't change the way I play hockey. I play to win," Staal said. "This won't change my game. I'm a competitive guy. The numbers won't be in my head. I'll do my thing.

"I want to be successful. I want to raise the Stanley Cup over my head. That's my main goal, my main focus."

Staal, 23, was the leading scorer in the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs as the the Canes won the Cup. The team's No. 1 draft pick in 2003 -- and the second overall selection in the NHL draft -- he has appeared in 327 career games and missed just one game to injury.

"Eric has been a special player for us right from the start," Canes general manager Jim Rutherford said. "We know that he is just coming into his prime right now and will continue to grow as a player."

Staal enters this season having played in 254 consecutive games. He led the team last season in several categories, including goals (38), assists (44), points (82), game-winning goals (7) and power-play goals (14).

Canes coach Peter Laviolette was the first to shake Staal's hand after the news conference at the RBC Center.

"It's great," Laviolette said. "He's one of the top players in the game, but from a coaching point of view he's somebody you want because he wants to win and he can win.

"He's one of the guys you can count on. It's all wrapped up in a guy you want to work with on a daily basis.

"It's well-deserved. It's really big for the Carolina Hurricanes, the organization and the area."