Canadiens acquire Eric Staal for two draft picks

The Montreal Canadiens have acquired forward Eric Staal from the Buffalo Sabers in exchange for third- and fifth-round picks in 2021, the team announced Friday.

Staal was traded to the Minnesota Wild Sabers in September 2020 in an effort to bolster Buffalo’s offensive corps, but with the team slumping to rock bottom, this could be the first of many moves the team makes before the deadline.

Buffalo will retain $1.625 million of Staal’s salary for the 2021 campaign. Staal had three goals and 10 points in 32 games with the Sabers this season, projecting the worst statistical result of his 17-year career. Although Montreal did its best to close its scoring deficit this offseason, acquiring Tyler Toffoli, Josh Anderson and Corey Perry, the club needs a little more oomph to pose a serious threat in the race for North Division playoffs and beyond.

For the Sabres, this could very well serve as an admission that they have to start all over again. General manager Kevyn Adams had a simple mandate this summer: get Jack Eichel more help, and Staal was a step in the right direction, at least at the time.

But with the Sabers remaining on a 16-game losing streak, ranking dead last in the league, while Eichel remains out indefinitely with an upper-body injury, the club is better served by looking back to the future.

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