Jordan Staal (STAWL; born September 10, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a centre and captain for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is regarded as a premier penalty-killer and skilled two-way forward. In 2007, he became the youngest player (18 years and 153 days) to score a hat trick in league history.
Staal grew up playing minor ice hockey for the Thunder Bay Kings AAA organization. After his minor midget year, Staal was selected in the first round (second overall) by the Peterborough Petes. After a two-year Ontario Hockey League (OHL) career, in which he won a J. Ross Robertson Cup and appeared in the 2006 Memorial Cup with the Petes, Staal was drafted second overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2006 NHL entry draft, becoming the second Staal in the NHL after older brother Eric was drafted second overall in the 2003 NHL entry draft. He made the immediate jump from junior to the NHL after being drafted and set several NHL records in his rookie season, including youngest player to score on a penalty shot, to score two shorthanded goals in one game, to score a hat trick and the most shorthanded goals by a rookie in one season. Staal was also a Calder Memorial Trophy nominee and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.
Among his former Penguins teammates, Staal was known as "Gronk". The nickname, a reference to a Marvel comic book supervillain, was given to him by former Penguins teammate Colby Armstrong, because of his strong on-ice presence. Staal won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Penguins in 2009, scoring two goals and an assist in the seven-game series against the Detroit Red Wings. One year prior, he lost the 2008 final against the same Red Wings. In 2026, he captained the Hurricanes to a Stanley Cup championship, being awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs Most Valuable Player, becoming the oldest player to win the award.
Jordan is one of the four Staal brothers, who have all played or are currently playing professional ice hockey in the NHL. The eldest, Eric, also played for (and captained) the Hurricanes until February 28, 2016. The youngest and fourth brother, Jared, made his NHL debut on April 25, 2013, on a line together with Jordan and Eric before retiring in 2017. The second-eldest, Marc, played defence for the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Detroit Red Wings, and Philadelphia Flyers before retiring in 2024.
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Playing career
Junior
Staal played major junior in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Peterborough Petes for two seasons, beginning in 2004–05 after having been selected third overall in the 2004 OHL Priority Draft. In his second year with the club, he produced at a point-per-game pace with 28 goals and 68 points in 68 games before adding 16 points in the playoffs to help lead Peterborough to the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions. Earning a berth in the 2006 Memorial Cup, the Petes did not, however, make it past the round-robin. During the 2005–06 season, Staal was also selected to play in the 2006 CHL Top Prospects Game.
Going into the 2006 NHL entry draft, Staal was ranked second among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, behind Erik Johnson of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. He went on to be drafted second overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins, behind Johnson, who was selected by the St. Louis Blues. Jordan became the third among the four Staal brothers to be drafted into the NHL after his older brothers Marc and Eric, the latter of whom was also selected second overall.
Professional (2006–present)
Staal was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the Penguins on October 2, 2006, and made the immediate jump from junior to the NHL in 2006–07 at the age of 18. He scored his first NHL goal on October 12, a shorthanded breakaway marker against New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist in a 6–5 win. Later that month, on October 21, Staal set a pair of NHL records with a two-goal effort against the Columbus Blue Jackets. In addition to becoming the youngest player to record a two-goal game since Bep Guidolin of the Boston Bruins did so at the age of 18 years and 12 days on December 21, 1943, Staal also scored both his goals on the penalty kill, becoming the youngest player to record two shorthanded goals in one game (surpassing Radek Dvořák of the Florida Panthers, who did so at 20 years and 278 days on December 12, 1997). Having scored his second shorthanded marker on a penalty shot, Staal additionally became the youngest player to score on a penalty shot, surpassing Nathan Horton, who scored with Florida at 18 years and 224 days on January 8, 2004.
Early in Staal's rookie season, however, there was still speculation that he would be returned to his junior team before playing his 10th game to avoid allowing him to accrue a full season under the NHL's collective bargaining agreement. Due to his strong play, however, particularly on the penalty-kill, the Penguins chose to keep him for the remainder of the season. Staal, along with fellow rookie Evgeni Malkin joined superstar Sidney Crosby, who had himself only entered his second NHL season, and goaltender Marc-André Fleury to form an effective young nucleus that revived the Penguins franchise.
In January 2007, Staal participated in the NHL YoungStars Game during the All-Star festivities, along with teammates Ryan Whitney and Malkin. Shortly thereafter, on February 10, 2007, Staal scored his first NHL career hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs and set yet another NHL record by becoming the youngest player in league history to score a hat trick at 18 years and 153 days. His first goal came at 19:22 in the first period, the second came at 3:32 in the second, and his third was the game winner, as he beat Toronto goalie Andrew Raycroft stick-side at 3:54 in overtime. The previous mark had been held for over sixty years by Jack Hamilton, who achieved a four-goal game at 18 years and 185 days old with the Maple Leafs against the New York Rangers on December 4, 1943. Then, late in the season, on March 6, Staal scored his league-leading seventh shorthanded goal of the season to break the previous league record for shorthanded tallies by a rookie (which was jointly held by Gerry Minor and John Madden). The goal cued a late third-period comeback for the Penguins to win 5–4 in a shootout against the Ottawa Senators.
International play
Staal made his international debut with Canada at the 2007 World Championships. Named to the team following the Penguins' first-round playoff defeat, he joined brother Eric to help Canada capture the gold medal by defeating Finland 4–2 in the final. In nine games, Staal contributed two assists.
Personal life
Born the third of four boys in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Staal grew up playing ice hockey with his three brothers on an outdoor rink built by their father, Henry. All of the Staal brothers have played in the NHL. Older brothers Eric, drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2003, and Marc, drafted by the New York Rangers in 2005, both played with Jordan in the NHL, while younger brother Jared was drafted in 2008 by the Phoenix Coyotes, played 2 NHL games, and is currently head coach of the Savannah Ghost Pirates of the ECHL. His cousin Jeff Heerema was drafted by the Hurricanes in the first round of the 1998 NHL entry draft.
Before becoming teammates in Carolina, Jordan and Eric have played together on one occasion prior, as part of Team Canada's 2007 World Championship gold medal-winning team, while also competing against each other in the NHL, including their high-profile matchup in the 2009 Eastern Conference Final. He has also met Marc's New York Rangers in the 2008 playoffs. Jordan has eliminated his brothers with the Penguins in both instances. Jordan has become the second brother to win a Stanley Cup (Pittsburgh 2009) behind older brother Eric (Carolina 2006).
In the summer of 2007, Jordan was arrested at Eric's bachelor party. Both were charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and obstructing the legal process while spending the night in jail. Jordan was also cited with underage drinking.
On June 22, 2012, Staal married longtime girlfriend Heather Dysievick. The couple has three daughters and a son. Their youngest daughter was delivered stillborn on February 22, 2018, a tragedy that made him miss three games.
Staal is a Christian. Staal has said, "Hockey was my identity. Sure, it pushed me to be the player I was, but it still left me empty. I made the NHL and won that Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh, fulfilling all the dreams I could ever think of, but I remember waking up a week later and realizing, 'that's it?'... Hockey is an unbelievable sport and something that has obviously been a big part of my life, but it's not all me; it's not something I live for. I live for God, and hockey is definitely something that I want to give God the glory for."
In 2012, the Staal Brothers created the Staal Family Foundation, an organization that tries "to help improve the quality of life for children with cancer and their families."
Career statistics
Awards
OHL All-Star – 2006
Played in CHL Top Prospects Game – 2006
Shared Michel Brière Rookie of the Year Award with Evgeni Malkin – 2007
Calder Memorial Trophy finalist – 2007
NHL All-Rookie Team – 2007
Players' Player Award – 2010
Frank J. Selke Trophy finalist – 2010, 2024
Stanley Cup champion – 2009, 2026
Conn Smythe Trophy – 2026
Steve Chiasson Award – 2015, 2018, 2021
Records
NHL
Youngest player to score two shorthanded goals in one game – October 21, 2006, against the Columbus Blue Jackets (18 years, 41 days; surpassed Radek Dvořák of the Florida Panthers; 20 years, 278 days on December 12, 1997)
Youngest player to score on a penalty shot – October 21, 2006, against the Columbus Blue Jackets (18 years, 41 days; surpassed Nathan Horton of the Florida Panthers; 18 years, 224 days on January 8, 2004)
Youngest player to score a hat trick – February 10, 2007, against the Toronto Maple Leafs (18 years, 153 days; surpassed Jack Hamilton of the Toronto Maple Leafs; 18 years, 185 days old on December 4, 1943)
Most short-handed goals by a rookie, in 2006–07 (7 shorthanded goals; surpassed Gerry Minor of the Vancouver Canucks in 1980–81 and John Madden in 1999–2000; 6 shorthanded goals)
Oldest player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy – June 14, 2026 (37 years, 277 days; surpassed Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins in 2011; 37 years, 62 days on June 15, 2011)
Longest span between Stanley Cup championships – June 14, 2026 (17 years, 2 days; surpassed Chris Chelios of the Montreal Canadiens in 1986 and the Detroit Red Wings in 2002; 16 years, 20 days)
Longest goal streak in the Stanley Cup Final – June 11, 2026 (5 games; tied with Cyclone Taylor of the Vancouver Millionaires in 1918, Maurice Richard of the Montreal Canadiens in 1951, Jean Béliveau of the Montreal Canadiens in 1956, and Yvan Cournoyer of the Montreal Canadiens in 1973)