Jordan Staal Bio
Jordan Staal (born September 10, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who serves as a centre and captain for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is widely regarded as a premier penalty-killer and a reliable two-way forward, and he became the youngest player in NHL history to score a hat trick at 18 years and 153 days. Over the course of his career, Staal has won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009 and has continued to play a leadership role in Carolina. He is also one of four brothers who have all reached the NHL, a rare family achievement in professional hockey.
Early Life and Background
Jordan Staal was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, the third of four boys in his family. He grew up playing ice hockey with his three brothers on an outdoor rink built by their father, Henry, where the siblings spent long hours developing their skills. All four Staal brothers eventually reached the NHL, including older brothers Eric and Marc and younger brother Jared. Jordan also has a cousin, Jeff Heerema, who was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 1998 NHL entry draft.
Staal played his minor hockey in Thunder Bay with the Thunder Bay Kings AAA organization. After his minor midget year, he was selected in the first round, second overall, by the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in the 2004 OHL Priority Draft. He played two major junior seasons with the Petes, producing at a point-per-game pace in his second year with 28 goals and 68 points in 68 games, then adding 16 points in the playoffs to help Peterborough win the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions. During the 2005–06 season, he was also selected to play in the 2006 CHL Top Prospects Game.
Path to the NHL
Going into the 2006 NHL entry draft, Staal was ranked second among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, behind Erik Johnson of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. He was selected second overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins, becoming the third of the four Staal brothers to be drafted into the NHL. That summer, the Penguins signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract on October 2, 2006, and Staal made the immediate jump from junior to the NHL at the age of 18.
Jordan Staal Career
Early Career (2006–2008)
Staal scored his first NHL goal on October 12, 2006, a shorthanded breakaway against New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist in a 6–5 win. Later that month, on October 21, he set a pair of NHL records with a two-goal effort against the Columbus Blue Jackets, including becoming the youngest player to record two shorthanded goals in one game and the youngest to score on a penalty shot. On February 10, 2007, he scored his first career hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs, becoming the youngest player in league history to record a hat trick at 18 years and 153 days. He finished his rookie season with 29 goals and 42 points, earned a Calder Memorial Trophy nomination, and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.
The following season, 2007–08, Staal’s production dipped to 12 goals and 28 points, but he remained an integral part of Pittsburgh’s run to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Detroit Red Wings. He scored six goals and added one assist during the playoffs, and the Penguins ultimately fell in six games. In 2008–09, Staal rebounded with a career-high 27 assists and 49 points, and on June 12, 2009, he and the Penguins won the Stanley Cup with a 2–1 win over the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. He recorded two goals and an assist in the seven-game series and scored a pivotal shorthanded goal in Game 4.
Pittsburgh Penguins Breakthrough (2006–2012)
Across his time in Pittsburgh, Staal became a cornerstone of one of the league’s most exciting young lineups, joining Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and goaltender Marc-André Fleury. He was named a finalist for the Selke Trophy at the end of the 2009–10 regular season, recognizing the NHL’s best defensive forward. He was later named to the rotating position of alternate captain for the Penguins in December 2008, and the team extended his contract in January 2009 through the 2012–13 season.
On April 18, 2012, Staal registered his first playoff hat trick against the Philadelphia Flyers in a 10–3 victory at the Wells Fargo Center. He finished the series with six goals, although the Penguins were eliminated in six games. On June 22, 2012, Staal was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Brandon Sutter, Brian Dumoulin, and the Hurricanes’ eighth overall pick at the 2012 NHL entry draft, which Pittsburgh used to select Derrick Pouliot. The deal reunited him with his older brother Eric in Carolina.
Carolina Hurricanes Era (2012–Present)
On July 1, 2012, Staal signed a ten-year, $60 million extension with the Hurricanes after declining a similar offer from the Penguins. He was later named co-captain of the Hurricanes alongside Justin Faulk on October 5, 2017, and on September 29, 2019, he was named the full-time captain of the team, replacing Justin Williams. On April 12, 2021, Staal played in his 1,000th NHL game. On April 10, 2022, he scored three goals against the Anaheim Ducks, registering his third regular-season hat trick and setting the NHL record for the longest time between two regular-season hat tricks at 4,898 days.
Driving Style and Strengths
Staal is best known for his elite penalty-killing ability and responsible two-way play, traits that helped him reach the Selke Trophy finalist stage and earn a reputation as one of the NHL’s most reliable defensive forwards. His combination of size, strength, and hockey sense has allowed him to match up against top opposing scorers while still contributing offensively, particularly in shorthanded situations. Teammates and coaches have consistently praised his leadership qualities, which ultimately led to his appointment as the Hurricanes’ captain.
Notable Events and Milestones
Staal’s career has been marked by several historic moments, including his record-setting rookie year, his Stanley Cup win with the Penguins in 2009, and his record gap between regular-season hat tricks set in 2022. He also reached his 1,000th NHL game in 2021, a milestone that underscores his durability and longevity in the league. His continued leadership in Carolina has helped guide the Hurricanes back to playoff contention in recent seasons.
Jordan Staal Career Wins
Jordan Staal has accumulated significant team and individual success across his NHL career, highlighted by a Stanley Cup championship and a Selke Trophy finalist appearance.
NHL Highlights
Staal won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009, defeating the Detroit Red Wings in seven games and contributing two goals and an assist. He was a finalist for the Selke Trophy at the conclusion of the 2009–10 regular season and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team following his debut campaign. He was also a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy at the conclusion of the 2017–18 season.
Other Wins and Performances
Staal captured the J. Ross Robertson Cup as an OHL champion with the Peterborough Petes in 2005–06, helping lead the club to the 2006 Memorial Cup. Internationally, he won a gold medal with Canada at the 2007 World Championships, joining older brother Eric on the roster and recording two assists in nine games.
Jordan Staal Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jordan Staal is the third of four brothers to have played professional ice hockey, and all four reached the NHL. Older brothers Eric and Marc were both drafted second overall, while younger brother Jared was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2008 and is now head coach of the Savannah Ghost Pirates of the ECHL. The brothers grew up playing hockey on an outdoor rink built by their father, Henry, in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Their cousin Jeff Heerema was also a first-round NHL draft pick.
Personal Life
Jordan Staal married his longtime girlfriend, Heather Dysievick, on June 22, 2012. The couple has three daughters and a son, although their youngest daughter was delivered stillborn on February 22, 2018, a tragedy that caused him to miss three games. Staal is a Christian and has spoken publicly about his faith, saying that hockey, while a major part of his life, is not what he ultimately lives for. In 2012, the Staal brothers created the Staal Family Foundation, an organization that works to help improve the quality of life for children with cancer and their families.
2025 Season Performance
Jordan Staal enters the 2025 season as the captain of the Carolina Hurricanes, continuing his long-term leadership role with the franchise. Coming off a stretch in which the Hurricanes have consistently qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs, Staal remains a key figure in the team’s two-way forward group and penalty-killing unit. His experience and faceoff ability are expected to play a central role in Carolina’s push to advance further in the Eastern Conference.
Throughout his time in Carolina, Staal has helped the Hurricanes emerge as a perennial playoff contender, including a trip to the Eastern Conference Final in 2019. While injuries and roster changes have shaped the team’s recent seasons, his steady presence on and off the ice has remained a constant. As one of the league’s most respected defensive centres, his on-ice matchups against opposing top lines will be a key storyline for the Hurricanes in 2025.
Heading into 2025, Staal’s role with the Carolina Hurricanes continues to emphasize leadership, defensive responsibility, and shorthanded reliability. With his contract running through the 2022–23 extension period and beyond, he is positioned to remain a central part of the team’s identity for the foreseeable future. His enduring production and durability at age 36 highlight a rare combination of experience and effectiveness that few NHL players can match.