Livescore
In 2003, the Carolina Hurricanes had the second-overall pick in the NHL draft, and with it, they selected Eric Staal from the OHL’s Peterborough Petes.
Staal, a native of Thunder Bay, Ont., has come a long way from his days in the OHL. He played 18 seasons in the NHL. He was a six-time NHL All-Star Game participant, was named to the NHL’s second all-star team in 2005-06 and, last but not least, was a Stanley Cup champion in 2006.
With that in mind, let’s take a look back at 10 highlights from Staal’s career in a Hurricanes jersey, which was retired on Jan. 12.
10. First NHL goal
On Oct. 23, 2003, against the Boston Bruins, Staal skated in on a 2-on-1 with Jeff O’Neill. O’Neill faked a shot on Bruins goalie Andrew Raycroft and then slid the puck over to Staal. Staal buried the puck in the net to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead. The Canes would go on to win the game 2-0, with Staal also picking up an assist on the second goal, delivering not only his first-ever multi-point game in the NHL but also getting his first-ever game-winning goal in the big leagues.
9. First NHL hat trick
On Oct. 28, 2005, the Hurricanes played the Philadelphia Flyers in a game where it felt like the scoring would never end that night. Part of that was because Staal netted his first-ever NHL hat trick and helped the Hurricanes beat the Flyers 8-6. Also notable from that night: 11 players had multi-point games across both teams.
8. Six-point game against the Lightning
On March 7, 2009, the Tampa Bay Lightning played the Carolina Hurricanes. Staal featured a fair amount on the scoresheet, racking up four goals and two assists for six points that led to a blowout win for the Hurricanes, who ended up taking the game by a 9-3 margin.
7. Staal named NHL All-Star Game MVP
On Jan. 27, 2008, the 56th rendition of the NHL All-Star Game was played in Atlanta, Ga. It was the best players of the Eastern Conference versus the best players of the Western Conference. Staal got the game-tying goal late in the third period and also assisted on Marc Savard’s game-winning goal with 21 seconds left in the game. Staal had three points in the game, earning him MVP honors.
6. Passes Rod Brind’Amour for all-time playoff goals in franchise history
In Game 4 of a second-round series against the Bruins during the 2009 playoffs, Staal grabbed a loose puck off the boards, rushed into the offensive zone, and scored from an impressive angle. With that tally, he surpassed Rod Brind’Amour for the all-time playoff goals record in franchise history.
5. Plays on a line with brothers Jared and Jordan
On April 25, 2013, the Hurricanes hosted the New York Rangers. Even though the Rangers won in overtime, clinching a playoff spot in the process, all that could be talked about was that the three Staal brothers (Eric, Jordan and Jared) had started the game on a line together, and the photo of the three of them standing at the blueline during the national anthem will go down in NHL history as one of the coolest pics of all time.
4. Staal sends the Devils packing
On April 28, 2009, in Game 7 of their first-round series against New Jersey, the Hurricanes trailed 3-2 late in the third period. With a little over a minute left in the game, Jussi Jokinen tied it up 3-3 and then, with about 30 seconds remaining, Staal came down the right wing side and fired a quick shot to beat the great Martin Brodeur blocker-side to send the Devils packing for the golf course, which pushed the Hurricanes onto the next round of the playoffs.
3. Becomes 13th captain in franchise history
On Jan. 20, 2010, then-GM Jim Rutherford made the tough decision to relieve former captain Brind’Amour of his duties and gave the ‘C’ to Staal, who became the 13th captain in franchise history.
2. Puts up 100 points in his sophomore season
In the 2005-06 season, fresh off the NHL’s year-long 2004-05 lockout, not many people expected that Staal would have the best season of his career. Playing all 82 regular-season games, he produced 45 goals and 55 assists for 100 points.
1. Leads Hurricanes to 2006 Stanley Cup
On June 19, 2006, it was Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final. The Edmonton Oilers and Hurricanes faced off to see who would skate away with the Cup when the final buzzer rang. Towards the end of the game, with 1:08 left in the third period, the Hurricanes led 2-1 and the Oilers had an empty net. The puck came loose off the boards, and Staal took it and, without a moment’s hesitation, passed it to teammate Justin Williams, nicknamed ‘Mr. Game 7’, who had a clear shot at the empty net and put it right down the middle to secure not only the win for the Canes but the franchise’s first and, to date, only Stanley Cup as well.
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