Wild trade Staal to Sabres for Johansson

The Minnesota Wild traded veteran center Eric Staal to the Buffalo Sabres for forward Marcus Johansson on Wednesday, the team announced.

Each player had a 10-team no-trade list, but Buffalo was not on Staal's and Minnesota was not on Johansson's, sources told Michael Russo of The Athletic.

The 35-year-old Staal remained productive in 2019-20, potting 19 goals and 47 points in 66 games. He'll likely be asked to become the No. 2 center behind Jack Eichel in Buffalo. That role was a major hole for the Sabres last year, with the team attempting to use Johansson in that spot despite the fact he is a natural winger.

There will be plenty of familiarity for Staal in western New York. He could be reunited on a line with former Carolina Hurricanes teammate Jeff Skinner, who could use a spark after recording just 23 points in the first season of his eight-year, $72-million extension. Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams is also a former teammate of Staal's; the two won a Stanley Cup together with the Canes in 2006.

Johansson, 29, tallied nine goals and 30 points in 60 games last season. He spent the first seven seasons of his 10-year career with the Washington Capitals, posting a career-high 58 points in 2016-17. Though he does have the ability to play center, he's had his best seasons playing on the wing. But Minnesota has a logjam of left-handed shooting wingers like Johansson, as well as a need at center.

Both players are entering the final year of their respective deals. Staal's contract carries an average annual value of $3.25 million, while Johansson's annual cap hit is $4.5 million.

Copyright (C) 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.