It’s not often a man gets married and divorced on the same day, but that’s what happened to Jordan Staal on Friday.

Staal was traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Carolina Hurricanes on his wedding day, ending an on-ice marriage which began when the Pens drafted the 6-foot-4, 220-pound center with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2006 draft.

It was a move Penguins General Manager Ray Shero needed to make, considering Staal could have — and likely would have — walked as a free agent at the end of next year without any compensation for the Pens.

Shero could have gambled and let his prized 23-year-old begin the season in Pittsburgh with the intentions of landing a major haul from a desperate team at the trade deadline. However, with a valuable package on the table, it was wise to take the 2007 No. 11 overall pick Brandon Sutter, the No. 8 pick this year in Derrick Pouliot and defensive prospect Brian Dumoulin.

There were no guarantees Staal would stay healthy — he’s missed 60 regular-season games over the past two years — and produce enough to command a king’s ransom at the deadline.

That being said, this is a deal where both sides should be careful what they wish for.

Staal is already considered by some as one of the premier two-way players in the game. He tallied 25 goals and 25 assists in 62 games last year and could very well develop into a dominant force.

Sidney Crosby has battled concussion issues and will remain a question mark until he can get through a season unscathed. Fellow superstar Evgeni Malkin bounced back from an ACL tear to claim MVP honors this season, but he has also been hampered by injuries in the past.

Staal provided depth and a sense of security no other team could boast at the center position.

I can’t blame him for growing sick of playing third fiddle, though.

Heck, Malkin walked away from the NHL Awards Show with enough hardware to fill a small apartment and is still considered by many as only the second-best center on his team.

With that kind of skill at the Penguins’ disposal, Staal might regret turning down a 10-year extension.

Even if he progresses into one of the top-five players in the league, the Hurricanes don’t seem to be knocking on the door to a championship.

Staal finally has a chance to shine on a team featuring his older brother Eric as captain and younger brother Jared coming through the organization.

After six years of solid production on the ice and a selfless demeanor in the Penguins locker room, Staal deserves to be more than just an insurance policy.

Jason Orfao is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.