Eric Staal

Eric Staal
Born	(1984-10-29) October 29, 1984 Thunder Bay, ON, CAN
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Centre
Shoots	Left
NHL team	Carolina Hurricanes
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	2nd overall, 2003 Carolina Hurricanes
Playing career	2003–present

Eric Craig Staal (born October 29, 1984) is a Canadian ice hockey player and the captain of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. Eric is the older brother of New York Rangers defenceman Marc Staal, Hurricanes teammate Jordan Staal (an alternate captain on the team under Eric), and Jared Staal, who has played for the Hurricanes and also for the Charlotte Checkers, within the Hurricanes organization.

Playing career

Staal grew up playing minor hockey in his hometown of Thunder Bay, Ontario. He played AAA for the Thunder Bay Kings organization and led his Bantam team to an All-Ontario Championship in 1999-2000. After that season, Staal was selected in the 1st round (13th overall) in the 2000 OHL Priority Selection by the Peterborough Petes.

Staal was selected second overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes, behind number 1 pick Marc-André Fleury. He had played for the Peterborough Petes of the OHL the year before, scoring 98 points in 66 games.

He played his first season in the National Hockey League right after being drafted. In 2004, Staal played in the YoungStars game as part of the 2004 NHL All-Star festivities.

He was named NHL Offensive Player of the Week (October 23–30, 2005). On October 28, 2005, Staal had his first career hat trick against the Philadelphia Flyers. He scored a career-high 100 points during the regular season. He then led the Hurricanes in points during the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs with 28 points as they won the Stanley Cup. Staal was fourth in voting for the Hart Trophy, which is the award for the NHL's most valuable player.

On July 1, 2006, Staal signed a three year, $13.5 million contract with the Hurricanes.

Staal made his first All-Star game appearance in 2007 NHL All-Star game in Dallas, where he scored the Eastern Conference's third goal.

He and his younger brother Jordan Staal were members of the 2007 Canadian IIHF World Championship team that won gold in a 4-2 win against Finland in Moscow.

On January 27, 2008, at the NHL All-Star Game in Atlanta, Staal recorded two goals and an assist. He was also awarded the MVP award for the event.

On September 11, 2008, Staal signed a seven year, $57.75 million deal with the Hurricanes beginning in the 2009–2010 NHL season. Staal was slated to become a restricted free agent on July 1, 2009, but signed despite having one year at $5 million remaining on his former contract.

On April 28, 2009, Staal capped an improbable comeback by scoring the series winning goal with 31.7 seconds remaining in the seventh game of Carolina's first round series with the New Jersey Devils.

On May 8, 2009, Staal scored twice to earn 40 career postseason points and eclipse Ron Francis' franchise mark of 39.

On January 20, 2010, Staal was named team captain, replacing Rod Brind'Amour who was named an alternate captain. Staal became the fifth captain since the team relocated to Raleigh.

On January 18, 2011, Staal was named the captain of the 2011 NHL All-Star Game in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Personal life

Staal married his longtime girlfriend Tanya VandenBroeke on August 3, 2007. His son, Parker Lucas Staal, was born September 22, 2009. Their second son, Levi John Staal, was born December 11, 2011 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Awards and achievements

• 2002–03: Top Draft Prospect Award (OHL)
• 2002–03: Second All-Star Team (OHL)
• 2002–03: First All-Star Team (CHL)
• 2003–04: Played in the YoungStars Game (NHL)
• 2005–06: Won Stanley Cup with Carolina Hurricanes, NHL 2nd All-Star Team
• 2007: World Ice Hockey gold
• NHL All-Star Game appearances: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
• 2007–08: All-Star Game MVP
• 2010: Olympic gold (Staal became the 23rd member of the Triple Gold Club)

Records

• Most hat tricks in 2008–09 - 4
• Carolina Hurricanes' franchise record for most hat tricks in a single season - 4 (2008–09)
• Carolina Hurricanes' franchise record for most career post-season points - 43

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1999–00	Thunder Bay Kings Bantam AAA	TBAHA		61	40	36	76	52		-	-	-	-	-
2000–01	Peterborough Petes	OHL		63	19	30	49	23		7	2	5	7	4
2001–02	Peterborough Petes	OHL		56	23	39	62	40		6	3	6	9	10
2002–03	Peterborough Petes	OHL		66	39	59	98	36		7	5	9	14	6
2003–04	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		81	11	20	31	40		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Lowell Lock Monsters	AHL		77	26	51	77	88		11	2	8	10	12
2005–06	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		82	45	55	100	81		25	9	19	28	8
2006–07	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		82	30	40	70	68		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		82	38	44	82	50		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		82	40	35	75	50		18	10	5	15	4
2009–10	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		70	29	41	70	68		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		81	33	43	76	72		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		82	24	46	70	48		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		48	18	35	53	54		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				690	268	359	627	531		43	19	24	43	12

International play

Medal record
Competitor for Canada
Men's ice hockey
Olympic Winter Games
Gold	2010 Vancouver
World Championships
Gold	2007 Moscow
Silver	2008 Halifax / Quebec City

Played for Canada in:

• 2007 World Championships (gold medal)
• 2008 World Championships (silver medal)
• 2010 Winter Olympics (gold medal)

International statistics

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2007	Canada	WC		9	5	5	10	6
2008	Canada	WC		8	4	3	7	6
2010	Canada	Oly		7	1	5	6	6
2013	Canada	WC		8	0	3	3	4
Senior int'l totals				32	10	16	26	22

See also

• List of NHL players with 100-point seasons

External links

• Eric Staal's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database