The Fort Erie Falcons have struck again in their attempt to get better in the depth department, acquiring Eric Staal and Calvin de Haan from Long Island in exchange for Jordan Eberle, Olli Maatta, Tanner Kero and highly touted prospect German Rubtsov.
Staal arrived at practice this morning and skated on a line with James van Riemsdyk and Blake Wheeler. If this line stays together, it has to be one of the biggest lines in the league given van Riemsdyk is the smallest member of the trio at 6'3" tall.
The lineup shuffle will likely see Tyler Seguin move to right wing, a move that will allow him to remove the defensive burden of playing center from his game; which should allow him to produce more offensively.
General Manager Matt Young didn't mince words about why the trade took place.
"We felt the need to get a little bit bigger. We loved the offense Jordan brought to the table but we needed to add some size to our lineup. Eric addresses that size but gives us an element of skill that we feel is comparable to Eberle. We didn't love giving up Rubtsov in the deal but with the depth we have in the organization at center now and in the pipeline, he may not have received an opportunity here down the road."
While the extraordinary good looking General Manager didn't say this trade was the result of the late loss in Wisborg the other night, the fact is that Wisborg's bigger centers made life rather difficult for the smaller Seguin and Kadri that night.
Staal and de Haan are expected to suit up for the Falcons in Niagara Falls tonight.
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