"It was just something he did in warmups. A freak thing but it is what it is," Brind'Amour said. "It's going to be a long-term injury, really. It's going to be anywhere from a month to two months, so not good news there but we've had a lot of injuries over the years and we're just going to have to keep figuring it out."
Staal, who does not have a point in six games this season, had 36 points (20 goals, 16 assists) in 75 regular-season games in 2025-26 and 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help Carolina win the Stanley Cup. Six of those goals game in the Cup Final and he was voted winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
He leads Hurricanes forwards in short-handed ice time per game (2:53) and has taken the most face-offs on the team (124).
Mark Jankowski moved up from the fourth line on Saturday and played in Staal's usual spot on the third line between Nikolaj Ehlers and Jordan Martinook. He had a goal in 15:48 of ice time, including 2:49 short-handed, and has a goal in four straight games.
"It's kind of sharing the duties," Brind'Amour said. "(Jankowski) has definitely played well, certainly in one game with 'Jordo' out, but we’'re going to need it now for an extended period."
In 15 seasons with Carolina, Staal has 499 points (198 goals, 301 assists) in 978 regular-season games, ranking second in Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers history in games and fifth in points.
Staal has 49 points (23 goals, 26 assists) in the postseason with Carolina, and his 108 playoff games are tied with Sebastian Aho for most in team history.
The Hurricanes (5-1-1) host the Washington Capitals on Tuesday (6:45 p.m. ET; HHN, CARNHL, MNMT).
"(Staal) gets the tough matchups every night, and frees up other guys to get a little bit lesser of that," Brind'Amour said. "But there's no hiding that now, so we're all going to have to step up a little more."
NHL.com independent correspondent Kurt Dusterberg contributed to this report
