The Philadelphia Flyers are signing veteran defenseman Marc Staal to a one-year contract, Daily Faceoff president and insider Frank Seravalli reports
The contract will have an average annual value (AAV) of $1.1 million. Staal will become an unrestricted free agent following the 2023-24 season.
Staal, 36, spent the 2022-23 season with the Florida Panthers alongside his brother Eric, where he collected three goals and 12 assists for 15 points in 82 games while averaging 18:12 of ice time. He added 122 blocked shots and 155 hits. Staal was a part of the Panthers’ miraculous playoff run that saw the Cats reach the Stanley Cup Final, ultimately losing to the Vegas Golden Knights. In 21 playoff games, Staal had zero points but added 37 hits and 27 blocked shots.
The Thunder Bay, Ontario, product was initially drafted No. 12 overall by the New York Rangers in the 2005 NHL Draft. Staal was captain of the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he won OHL Most Outstanding Defenseman of the Year and the playoff MVP in 2006-07 after notching 20 points in 21 playoff games.
Staal made his NHL debut with the Rangers in 2007-08, registering 10 points in 80 games of action. He spent 13 seasons in the Big Apple before joining the Detroit Red Wings in 2020 via a trade. Staal totaled 43 goals and 145 assists for 188 points in 892 games with the Rangers. He ranks sixth in games played as a Ranger.
He signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Red Wings in 2021. Following that contract, Staal signed a one-year deal worth $750,000 (AAV) with the Panthers.
In 1,011 NHL games, Staal has collected 52 goals and 177 assists for 229 points while adding 1,612 hits and 1,404 blocked shots.
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