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).

Staal's tenure in Carolina began when he was traded there by the Pittsburgh 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 with the Penguins and scored nine points (four goals, five assists) in 24 games during the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs.