Penguins general manager Ray Shero admitted today that numerous teams have inquired about the availability of center Jordan Staal.
Shero’s reply is simple: Staal isn’t available.
Despite steady speculation all summer that Staal could be traded this summer, Shero will attempt to sign the center to a long-term contract.
“You can’t have it both ways,” he said. “I can’t try to negotiate a contract with Jordan and a trade with another team at the same time. It doesn’t work that way. We don’t want to trade Jordan. We think we can sign him, and we’re going to try.”
Shero had a positive meeting with Staal after the Penguins were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Philadelphia.
“He told me he likes it here,” Shero said. “Told me he wants to stay, that he likes Pittsburgh and likes being a Penguin."