Marc Staal Joins the Falcons

Newest Falcon Marc Staal

As a reporter covering sports, you long for a quiet day off once the season starts. 

Unfortunately, as a reporter covering the Fort Erie Falcons, that's a rare event. 

In what was a crazy day yesterday, GM Matt Young completed the much anticipated Brent Seabrook trade yesterday.  Seabrook, along with seldom-used Luke Glendening, was sent to Hamilton for a package of players that included prospects Michael McLeod and Francis Perron. 

With a perceived hole on the blue line following the trade, the Falcons reached an agreement with veteran defenseman Marc Staal on a one-year contract worth six million dollars. 

While starting the season as a free agent as a late cut due to financial limitations wasn't the way Staal wanted to start the season, he's pretty happy how it ended up. 

"I'm thrilled to be able to come to this team.  They have invested in me heavily and I'm looking to get my career back on track with this organization.  I was surprised to be bought out but the way this has turned out has been a blessing in disguise; and not just because I'm getting two paycheques this season" said Staal when addressing the media after practice yesterday. 

When GM Matt Young addressed the media it was a pretty simple message as to why the Seabrook trade happened. 

"Brent wanted to play more and Hamilton really wanted to bring him into augment their group.  Chuck Taylor has been aggressive in reshaping his team this season and it was a deal that made sense for both of us" quipped Young. 

Young continued, "We had Marc come in two days ago to work out with the coaching staff and we didn't feel we would lose a lot by adding him to the group, and this move gives Stephen Johns a chance to get into the lineup regularly.  His skill set is similar to Brent's on the defensive end of the ice and he makes us a bit tougher.  It just made sense from a hockey standpoint and business standpoint after Chuck included the cash." 

At the end of the day, it's about winning hockey games and it is clear that Fort Erie will continue to make moves to challenge this year and well beyond in their quest for the Kehler Cup.