Staals in 'weird situation' near deadline: report

Carolina Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal admitted Thursday he's in a "weird situation" with the uncertain status of his brother, Hurricanes captain Eric Staal, heading toward the NHL Trade Deadline.
But if Eric is traded to the New York Rangers, where brother Marc Staal is a defenseman, as has been rumored, it might not be so bad.

"Those are the rumors, obviously. Whether that happens or not, it'd be pretty neat to see them playing together as well," Jordan told TSN. "I don't really know what's going to happen. Brothers stealing brothers is not what I want to see, but at the end of the day, if that's the way it works out, that's the way it works out. To play alongside your brother and battle for two points every night, you pinch yourself every once in a while. It's been really cool."
Eric Staal can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. On Wednesday, he told the News & Observer he has not been asked by the Hurricanes to waive his no-movement clause. The deadline is 3 p.m. ET Monday.

"We'll see what happens," Eric told reporter Chip Alexander. "For me, personally, there's been talk in certain areas. Ultimately, we'll see what management wants to do and what they see is best for this organization and this team, and we'll go from there.
"Obviously it depends on the situation and where it would be. But I think we've got a pretty good relationship where we can talk it out and figure it out. I'm not going to be trying to hold anything back, but it's got to be the right situation for myself as well."
Eric, 31, has 10 goals and 32 points in 61 games this season. He has played all 12 of his NHL seasons with the Hurricanes, who picked him No. 2 in the 2003 NHL Daft. Jordan, 27, has been with Carolina the past four seasons after being traded by the Pittsburgh Penguins, who selected him No. 2 in the 2006 draft.

"It is a weird situation," Jordan told reporter Frank Seravalli. "Obviously we're close and we talk, but he's been doing really well with it. He hasn't brought it into the [locker] room or anything like that. … It's a tough time for Eric. It is a business and we want to make the [Stanley Cup Playoffs]. We're trying to push for that."
Carolina was two points out of the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference entering its game at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.
"That's the scenario we're in. It's a difficult situation for our management and for players as well," Jordan said. "Whatever they decide, we're going to show up and keep working to try and make the playoffs. That's all we're focusing on."