Carolina Hurricanes Icon Eric Staal Retires After 18-Season Career, Jersey Number to be Honored

Tuesday, July 30th, 2024

After 18 seasons, former NHL All-Star Eric Staal has officially retired.

The Carolina Hurricanes confirmed that Staal signed a one-day contract to conclude his career with the team that selected him second overall in the 2003 draft and with which he won the Stanley Cup three years later.

The Hurricanes announced plans to retire Staal's jersey number 12 in the upcoming season.

Throughout his career, Staal, now 39, played in 1,365 NHL games, tallying 455 goals and 608 assists, and spent time with multiple teams.

Staal was selected as an NHL All-Star six times and received MVP honors in 2008.

In his second season with Carolina, Staal had a breakout performance with 45 goals and 55 assists, achieving the only 100-point season in Hurricanes history during the 2005-06 season. That year, under the leadership of Rod Brind'Amour, the team won the Stanley Cup, with Staal assisting on Justin Williams' decisive goal in Game 7.

Staal holds franchise records for goals (322), assists (453), points (775), games played (909), power-play goals (105), power-play points (252), and hat tricks (13).

His brother, Jordan, currently serves as the captain of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Eric Tulsky, Carolina's general manager, highlighted Staal's significant contributions to the franchise and his positive influence on the community.

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