“Eric is a uniquely central figure in franchise history,” said Tulsky. “Throughout his time in the Triangle, he made an immeasurable impact on his teammates, the organization and the community. We look forward to raising number 12 to the rafters and celebrating the career of a man who has meant so much to hockey fans in North Carolina.”
“I want to thank my family, former teammates, coaches and staff members who played a role in helping me live my dream, playing in the NHL,” said Staal. “I will forever treasure the memories and friendships made during my 18 years in the world’s best league.”
The Thunder Bay, Ont., native represented Canada at numerous international tournaments, including the IIHF World Championships in 2007, 2008 and 2013, and the Olympic Games in 2010 and 2022. Staal is one of just 30 players in the Triple Gold Club, which includes players to win the Stanley Cup (2006), World Championship gold (2007) and Olympic gold (2010). Eric (1,365 GP) and his younger brothers Jordan (1,253 GP) and Marc (1,136 GP) are the only trio of brothers in NHL history to each play at least 1,000 career games.
