Eric Staal has signed a one-day contract with the Carolina Hurricanes, ensuring he retires as a member of the organization. Selected second overall in the 2003 NHL Draft, Staal scored 322 goals and 775 points in 909 regular-season games over 12 seasons with the Hurricanes. He concluded his career with a total of 455 goals and 1,063 points in 1,365 games, spanning six additional seasons.
Staal is the first and only player in Hurricanes franchise history to score over 100 points in a single season, achieving this feat during the 2005-06 campaign with 45 goals and 55 assists. He is also the only player in franchise history to represent the team at four consecutive NHL All-Star games, from 2007-09 and in 2011 (the 2010 NHL All-Star Game was canceled due to the NHL’s participation in the Winter Olympics).
In franchise history, Staal ranks second in goals (322), assists (453), points (775), and games played (909), trailing only Ron Francis in each category. He served as the Hurricanes’ captain for seven seasons.
The Staal family has made NHL history, with Eric, his brothers Jordan and Marc, becoming the only trio of brothers to each play in at least 1,000 career games. Jordan Staal is set to begin his seventh season as the Hurricanes’ captain, continuing the family legacy in Carolina.
The Hurricanes plan to retire Eric Staal’s #12 jersey at a date to be determined this season.
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