The Jordan Staal-to-Carolina rumors are heating up

Given the Carolina Hurricanes already employ two of the four hockey-playing Staal brothers (Eric and Jared), it would only make sense they’d be interested in a third.

Right?

Right, according to the wonderful world of social media.

That’s the rumor du jour regarding the future of Pittsburgh forward Jordan Staal. To understand how we got from “Staal leading the Pens in playoff scoring” to “Staal going to ‘Canes country”, follow this handy timeline:

– Pens GM Ray Shero conducts a lengthy interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, saying he “might run into problems” trying to keep all three of his gifted centers: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Staal.

Malkin is on the books until 2014, Crosby and Staal 2013. But of the three, Crosby and Malkin have no-movement clauses. Staal doesn’t.

– Following up on comments from CBC’s Glenn Healy (“[Staal] is not going to ask to be traded, but the hockey world knows something has got to happen,”) the Edmonton Journal floats the idea of the Oilers trading the first overall pick at the 2012 Draft for Staal.

– TSN’s Bob McKenzie then picks up on the trade banter:

“There’s a lot of Jordan Staal talk, where his long-term home is (PIT or elsewhere?). Being a year from UFA means he’s driving the bus.

“PIT can’t get full market value in trade for J Staal if he’s one and done in the new locale. So Staal ultimately ends up wherever he wants.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if all three Staal brothers eventually want to play on same team. Eric, BTW, has four more years on his CAR deal.

“Which is to suggest Eric not going anywhere. Just a guess, but if Jordan isn’t a Penguin—not suggesting he’s not—a Cane seems logical.

“Bottom line is in 1 yr, it’s entirely his call. That power/influence dramatically impacts potential move this summer.”

– Mark Madden of Penguins Radio (WXDX 105.9 Pittsburgh) reports on the ‘Canes angle: “Staal has apparently said that if Pens trade him, he’d prefer to go to Carolina to play with brother Eric.”

– Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News and Observer continues this narrative. “Canes would (will?) be very interested,” Alexander tweets. “I would not be stunned if Jordan Staal becomes a Hurricane.”

– Then, in a piece claiming Carolina GM Jim Rutherford’s been greenlit by owner Peter Karmanos to acquire “a top-line player,” The News and Observer’s Luke DeCock says Staal is a legit free agent target.

So there’s your timeline.

Now that we’ve angried up the blood, let’s put everything in perspective. One, nothing is imminent (as Madden notes in a subsequent tweet). Two, Carolina seems to be in need of wingers and blueliners more than centers.

Three, nobody’s actually talked to Staal, who is probably laughing on a deck somewhere in Thunder Bay.