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Logical NHL moves - and why they likely won't happen

Would Marc Staal want to join brother Eric on the Carolina Hurricanes? (Bruce Bennett, Getty Images)

Would Marc Staal want to join brother Eric on the Carolina Hurricanes? (Bruce Bennett, Getty Images)

Four logical or desirable events that should happen in the NHL, but likely won’t:

Marc Staal signs with the Hurricanes next summer

Brothers Eric and Jordan are in Carolina and Jared is in the organization. The Staals are a close-knit family. The Rangers undoubtedly would like to see Staal sign for $5.5 million, which is what Dan Girardi makes. Ryan McDonagh is at $4.7 million. The Hurricanes could give Staal a little bit more because he would be the team’s No. 1 defenseman. Having the Staal brothers all on one team would be a significant national and local marketing story line.

Why it won’t happen: Marc Staal would have to leave a Rangers team that was in the Stanley Cup Final five months ago to join a lower-rung Carolina team. Staal seems to enjoy playing with the Rangers, and they don’t want to lose him.

Pittsburgh Penguins trade for Nail Yakupov

The Penguins have a collection of quality young defensemen and not enough prospect forwards. The Edmonton Oilers don’t have enough quality young defensemen.  Yakupov, a natural scorer, could play alongside Russian countryman Evgeni Malkin. If anyone could bring the best out of Yakupov, it would be Malkin. The Penguins are looking for a scorer to play with Malkin.

Why it won’t happen: The Penguins are a Stanley Cup contender, and they want a scorer with a track record. What if Yakupov is another Alexandre Daigle? This kind of trade involves risk, and the Penguins probably want a safer bet.

Coyotes end up with Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel

We won’t know whether the Arizona Coyotes can survive in the desert until they have a contending team, and they need a franchise player to move that process along. The NHL would benefit if Arizona could draft one of these players to join prospects Henrik Samuelsson, Max Domi and Brendan Perlini. The NHL needs this franchise to work, particularly if Las Vegas is coming into the NHL.

Why it won’t happen: The Coyotes aren’t bad enough to get into the sweepstakes. They won’t have the NHL’s worst or second-worst record and likely won’t even be low enough in the standings  to have reasonable odds to win the draft lottery.

Detroit Red Wings acquire defenseman Tyler Myers

The Red Wings have been looking for a right-handed defenseman with some offensive potential for three seasons.  Myers, 24, is tied up for four more seasons at $5.5 million.  He has regressed in his development, but there is hope that the 6-7 Buffalo Sabres defenseman would be re-energized with a move to a new team.

Why it won’t happen: The Red Wings won’t give up Anthony Mantha or Dylan Larkin or any of their top young players. Trying to acquire a potential rental player like right-shot defenseman Mike Green would be less painful.  If they could land Green and like him, they could have an inside track of signing him. Green is also a more natural power play guy.

Your games tonight

N.Y. Rangers at Philadelphia, 1

Chicago at Anaheim, 4

N.Y. Islanders at Washington, 5

Winnipeg at Boston, 7

Montreal at Buffalo, 7

Detroit at New Jersey, 7

Carolina at Pittsburgh, 7

Vancouver at Columbus, 7

Ottawa at Florida, 7:30

Edmonton at St. Louis, 8

Minnesota at Dallas, 8:30

Follow the rest of USA TODAY Sports’ in-depth NHL coverage at nhl.usatoday.com.

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