A source told ESPN.com that center Eric Staal has signed a seven-year contract extension with Carolina worth between $56 million and $60 million. The new deal will not kick in until the 2009-10 season. Staal will earn $5 million this season, the last year of a three-year deal he signed in 2006. He was eligible for restricted free agency after the coming season. RealGM Note: Staal was ranked 66th in the NHL in FIC during the 07-08 season and 'deserved' to make $4.5 million, which was also his actual salary and he therefore had a +0% Reina Value.