Eric Staal

Eric Craig Staal (born October 29, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who spent eighteen seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Florida Panthers. He is the eldest of the Staal brothers, which includes Marc, Jordan, and Jared, all of whom he played alongside at various points.

Selected second overall by the Hurricanes in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Staal appeared in the NHL YoungStars Game and scored 11 goals as a rookie. After spending the lockout-shortened 2004–05 season in the AHL, he exploded for 45 goals and his only 100-point campaign in 2005–06. That postseason, he led the league with 19 assists and 28 points, adding nine goals as Carolina won the Stanley Cup. Named team captain in 2010, he held the role for six years.

Over twelve seasons with the Hurricanes, he posted two 40-goal seasons and three more with 30 or more goals. Traded to the Rangers late in the 2015–16 season, he later signed with Minnesota as a free agent in 2016. He scored his 400th career goal in 2018 and reached 1,000 career points in 2019. Subsequent trades sent him to Buffalo in 2020 and Montreal in 2021, where he reached the Stanley Cup Final.

In 2022, he signed with Florida and again made the Final in 2023, scoring a goal that set a record for the longest gap between goals in Final history. A six-time NHL All-Star, Staal retired in 2024. The Hurricanes retired his jersey in 2025, making him the fourth player in franchise history to receive that honour.

Staal is a member of the Triple Gold Club, having won the Stanley Cup in 2006, the 2007 World Championships, and the 2010 Winter Olympics with Team Canada.

Born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, to sod farmers Henry and Linda Staal, all four of his grandparents were Dutch immigrants. He began playing hockey at age four, learned to operate farming tools, and played on a home rink with his three younger brothers. Growing up, he idolized forwards Joe Sakic and Wayne Gretzky. He wore number 12 because his father had worn it while playing for the Lakehead Thunderwolves from 1978 to 1983.

Staal played minor hockey in Thunder Bay, competing for the AAA Thunder Bay Kings and leading his Bantam team to an All-Ontario Championship in 1999–2000. Selected 13th overall in the 2000 OHL Priority Selection by the Peterborough Petes, he recorded 49 points in 63 games as a rookie, then improved to 62 points the following season. In his draft year, he led the Petes with 39 goals and 98 points, earning CHL First All-Star Team and OHL Second All-Star Team honours, and skated in the CHL Top Prospects Game.

Drafted second overall in 2003 by Carolina, Staal played his first NHL season immediately. During the 2004–05 lockout, he played for the AHL’s Lowell Lock Monsters, setting franchise records in points (77), assists (51), plus-minus (+37), and shorthanded goals (7), and was selected for the AHL All-Star Classic. In 2005–06, he scored a career-high 100 points, was named NHL Offensive Player of the Week after his first hat-trick against Philadelphia, and led the Hurricanes in playoff scoring with 28 points during their Stanley Cup run. He finished fourth in Hart Trophy voting and signed a three-year, $13.5 million extension on July 1, 2006.

Staal made his first All-Star Game appearance in 2007, scoring the Eastern Conference’s third goal, though his production dipped to 70 points. At the 2008 All-Star Game in Atlanta, he recorded two goals and an assist and was named MVP. On September 11, 2008, he signed a seven-year, $57.75 million extension beginning in 2009–10. In the 2009 playoffs, he scored the series-winning goal with 31.7 seconds left in Game 7 against New Jersey, a comeback dubbed “Shock at the Rock.” The Hurricanes reached the Eastern Conference Final, losing to eventual champion Pittsburgh. On May 8, 2009, he scored twice to reach 40 career postseason points, surpassing Ron Francis’ franchise record of 39. On January 20, 2010, he was named team captain, replacing Rod Brind’Amour.