Staal, the oldest of his family's four hockey-playing brothers, is a member of hockey's exclusive Triple Gold Club: He won Olympic gold in 2010 and a World Championship in 2007 with Canada, and he helped the Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup in 2006.

Staal spent a decade rewriting the Hurricanes record book. After being selected by Carolina at No. 2 in the 2003 NHL Draft, he immediately began justifying the hype. The center's great hands and 6-foot-4 frame helped him jump from juniors to the NHL as a 19-year-old for the 2003-04 season, when he played 81 games. He finished ninth among rookies that season with 31 points, played in the NHL's YoungStars Game and finished 15th in voting for the Calder Trophy.

Staal took his place among the NHL's elite in 2005-06. With 45 goals and 100 points, he cracked the League's top 10 in each category and set franchise records. He also earned a spot on the NHL's second All-Star Team and was fourth in Hart Trophy voting. Staal helped lead the Hurricanes to their first Stanley Cup with 28 points in 25 playoff games.

Staal would lead the Hurricanes in scoring eight times from 2006-15 and represent the franchise in four NHL All-Star Games. Staal's streak of 349 consecutive games played between March 20, 2004 and Nov. 1, 2009 was a record for the franchise during its time in Carolina. In January of 2010, Staal replaced Rod Brind'Amour as captain.

While with Carolina, Staal started a game alongside two of his brothers, forwards Jordan and Jared, against the New York Rangers late in the 2012-13 season. The Hurricanes traded Staal to the Rangers on Feb. 28, 2016, which gave him the opportunity to play with the second-oldest Staal brother, Marc, the only defenseman of the group.

Staal scored three goals and six points in 20 regular-season games with the Rangers, who lost their first-round series with the eventual champion Pittsburgh Penguins. After the season, Staal signed three-year free agent contract with the Minnesota Wild.