Pens Sunday Afternoon Tibits & Rumblings: Staal talks Quiet & Crosby new contract getting insured

While there have been a number of discussions between GM Ray Shero and Sidney Crosby’s camp about new contract extension that can be signed on July 1, nothing is brewing between the Penguins and Jordan Staal’s camp, who unlike Crosby is far from a lock to sign a new deal this summer.

Paul Krepelka, the agent for Jordan Staal tells Inside Pittsburgh Sports that no “meetings or discussions” are planned with Penguin management at this time, but Krepelka expects to meet up with Shero at somepoint during draft weekend (June 22-23) in Pittsburgh.

Multiple teams have inquired about Staal and sources say Shero is telling interested teams,

that he’s not moving Staal at this time. However, that won’t stop teams from stop calling as trade discussions are already heating up leaguewide and will continue to heat up leading into the draft.

Carolina and Toronto are among the two prominent teams with their eyes on Staal and the New York Rangers are a team that’s been discussing Staal internally and sources say the Rangers are a team that could enter the derby if Shero opens up trade talks after July 1 and the Rangers miss out on a number of their top targets that includes Rick Nash and Zach Parise.

If Shero puts Staal on the trade market at somepoint this summer, the Hurricanes continue to be regarded as the most likely trade partner due to the likelihood of Staal wanting to sign there and play with his brother Eric.

Staal entering the last year of his deal, is scheduled to make $4.5 million in 2012-2013. He would just be 24 years old if he hits the free agency market next July.

With the Penguins working on a new contract for Sidney Crosby that is expected to be 10 or more years, the team looking at options of getting Sidney Crosby’s contract insured for concussions has been aggressively pursued.

Under Crosby’ current five year deal, the Penguins have an insurance policy in place that covers Crosby’s absence when he’s injured and out of the lineup for more than 30 games.

With Crosby concussion history now, the Penguins will be hard pressed to get Crosby’s contract insured for concussions, therefore, if that’s the case and he’s sidelined with another concussion that lets say ends his career at somepoint in his multi-year contract, the Penguins would have to pay off his entire contract.

The NHL requires teams to insure their top-five players salaries through the BWD Group, a New York based insurance company and the risk of a 10+ year deal for Crosby with a so called “concussion exclusion” isn’t likely to scare off the Penguins from a significant term.