Eric Staal has not played in the NHL for over a season. He last played with the Florida Panthers, reaching the Stanley Cup Final with them in 2023, but didn’t sign with any team or play anywhere last season.
However, he confirmed that he played his last NHL game, as he signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes this past Tuesday. The Canes have also announced that they will retire his No. 12 in a game to be announced later this season.
“From the time I arrived in Raleigh at 18 years old and throughout my 12 years there, I felt the love and support of the fans and organization in a way that will always feel special to me,” said Staal in a statement released by the Hurricanes. “There was no doubt in my mind that when it became time to hang up my skates, I would want to retire as a Carolina Hurricane. To now also know that the team is retiring my No. 12 is truly humbling and I am extremely grateful and honored.”
The Carolina Years
Staal is very often overlooked as one of the early stars of the salary cap era in the NHL, as he was one of the most underrated players in the league during his prime days. He was selected second overall in the famous 2003 NHL Entry Draft, and made an instant impact the moment he arrived on the Hurricanes. To this day, he remains arguably the most impactful player in Carolina history since they relocated from Hartford in 1997.
His best season was his sophomore season, where he led the team in scoring, with 45 goals and 100 points, both career-highs. Though he was 21 then, he was the fuel to the tank of the Canes’ best season in franchise history that resulted in them winning their first Stanley Cup. During the playoff run, Staal added nine goals and 28 points in 25 playoff games, leading the team in scoring along the way.
Staal is first in team history since the franchise’s relocation in goals (322), assists (453), points (775), games played (909), power play goals (105), power play points (252), and hat tricks (13). He averaged over 20 minutes per game with the Canes, and served as the team captain from 2009 to 2016, succeeding current Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour.
Staal is the only player in Hurricanes franchise history to represent the team in four consecutive NHL All-Star Games (2007-09, 2011), where he won All-Star Game MVP in 2008. He was also one of the two team captains for the first All-Star Game played in Raleigh.
Later Years
Age-related decline hit Staal early, and his point totals started to decrease as soon as he was traded to the Rangers at 31 years old. He didn’t last long with them, but when he signed with the Wild as a free agent in the summer of 2016, he had somewhat of a career resurgence, where his best season with them was a 42-goal, 76-point season in the 2018 year.
However, it was clear that he was not the same dominant top line center that he was in Carolina. He played the final years of his NHL career with the Sabres, Canadiens, and Panthers, where he played on a fourth line role as a solid veteran depth piece on the latter two teams on their Stanley Cup Final trips as the 16th seeded team in the playoffs overall. Unfortunately, he was on the losing side of the Final these two times around.
Staal finishes his career with 455 goals, 608 assists, and 1,065 points in 1,365 career NHL games through 18 seasons. He also retires as one of just 30 players in the Triple Gold Club, which includes players winning a Stanley Cup (2006), World Championship gold (2007), and Olympic gold (2010).
We at Shady Sports Network congratulate Staal on a fantastic career as he ventures onto the next stage of life.
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