LeBrun: How Eric Staal was traded to Buffalo despite his no-trade list – The Athletic

I know what youre asking and Ive got the response for you.
Why wasnt Buffalo on Eric Staals 10-team no-trade list?
Of all, on a personal note, there are couple of much better hockey markets than Buffalo, normally speaking. Nevertheless, offered the events of current years, you can see why so many fans were asking that question Wednesday in the after-effects of the Minnesota Wild being able to move the 35-year-old centre to the Sabres without his approval.
The response to the concern, according to a source near the matter, is that the 10 groups on Staals list were populated mostly by playoff clubs that kept calling Minnesota over the last couple of years to see if they might persuade the centre to move at the deadline.
It never struck Staal or his veteran agent Rick Curran that the struggling Sabres would see healthy to trade for a player who will turn 36 on Oct. 29. You can see their thinking, there. I wouldnt have had Buffalo …