Jordan Staal "embodies what it means to be a Hurricane."

Those words were shared by general manager Don Waddell after Staal signed a four-year, $11.6 million contract to stay with the Carolina Hurricanes on June 25, 2023, in lieu of becoming an unrestricted free agent. At the time, Staal was the longest-tenured member of the Hurricanes and completed his fourth season as captain.

Staal's game-tying goal at 13:37 of the third period in Carolina's 4-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on Jan. 20, 2025, was his 700th NHL point (295 goals, 405 assists) in his 1,300th game. He and Eric Staal (1,063) became the sixth pair of siblings with at least 700 points, joining Daniel Sedin (1,041) and Henrik Sedin (1,070); Henri Richard (1,046) and Maurice Richard (966); Frank Mahovlich (1,103) and Peter Mahovlich (773); Geoff Courtnall (799) and Russ Courtnall (744); and Saku Koivu (832) and Mikko Koivu (711).

The following season, Staal made history in more ways than one when he helped the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup with a six-game victory against the Vegas Golden Knights. He became the fourth active player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, voted as MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as a captain, following Connor McDavid (2024), Sidney Crosby (2016 and 2017) and Alex Ovechkin (2018). He tied the NHL record for the longest goal streak in a Stanley Cup Final at five games and became the first player in 70 years to score at least one goal in each of the first five games of a Cup Final. He became the second captain in the past 105 years to score at least six goals in the Final, joining Wayne Gretzky, who had seven in five games with the Edmonton Oilers in 1985.

Staal then officially became the oldest player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. At 37 years and 277 days old, he topped Tim Thomas (2011, Boston Bruins) by 216 days. He was also the first player to go at least 17 years between Stanley Cup championships (2009 Pittsburgh Penguins).

Staal's tenure in Carolina began when he was traded there by the Penguins on June 22, 2012. Eight days later, he signed a 10-year, $60 million contract and joined his older brother, Eric, who was the No. 2 pick by Carolina in the 2003 NHL Draft and who played for the Hurricanes until 2016. Another older brother, Marc, is an NHL defenseman and his younger brother, Jared, played two games for the Hurricanes during the 2012-13 season.

Selected by the Penguins with the No. 2 pick of the 2006 NHL Draft, Staal made an immediate impact; he scored 29 goals and 42 points in 81 games and became the youngest player (18 years, 41 days) to score two shorthanded goals in one game. Those goals came against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 21, 2006, when Staal also became the youngest player to score on a penalty shot.

Three years later, Staal won the Stanley Cup and scored nine points (four goals, five assists) in 24 games during the 2009 playoffs.