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Carolina Hurricanes: Top 3 Captain Candidates If Justin Williams Retires

By Matthew Nidiffer

RALEIGH, NC - MAY 16: Carolina Hurricanes right wing Justin Williams (14) plays a puck along the boards during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes on May 14, 2019 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - MAY 16: Carolina Hurricanes right wing Justin Williams (14) plays a puck along the boards during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes on May 14, 2019 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 28: Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks on against the New York Islanders during the second period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Barclays Center on April 28, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 28: Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks on against the New York Islanders during the second period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Barclays Center on April 28, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Jordan Staal

Leadership seems to run in the Staal family. His elder brother, Eric, was named captain of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2010, replacing Rod Brind’amour who was named alternate captain that same year. Eric became the fifth captain in franchise history after moving to Raleigh from Hartford, and Jordan Staal would follow suit not long after Eric’s departure from the franchise.

Jordan Staal was famously a member of the co-captaincy era alongside Justin Faulk in 2017; the conclusion of this season saw Staal named a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. Staal has since served as an alternate captain for the 2018-19 season, alongside Justin Faulk.

Staal has an uncanny ability to make just the right play at just the right time, and excels at lifting up his teammates during times of stress or in very intense situations. Staal is also the quarterback of the Hurricanes’ penalty kill squad, which he does very efficiently and effectively. A true captain leads both on and off the ice, and Jordan Staal does both wonderfully.

Players have referred to Staal as being someone they look up to, and someone who leads by example. In the event that Williams retires, having Staal take his place would be an obvious choice, were it not for a select few other names.

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