Carolina Hurricanes: The Greatest Player in Franchise History
By Conor Power
Eric Staal
Eric Staal was beloved by everyone in Carolina. How many other people can walk in as a rookie and casually throw up a 100 point season with 45 goals and 55 assists en route to a Stanley Cup? He was a homegrown talent and one of the best players ever to wear the Hurricane. Although he started to lose a step as time went on in Raleigh, his skill never wavered.
He recorded 775 points during his time in Carolina in the form of 322 goals and 453 assists in 909 games. That is a 0.85 point per game rate. That is not normal, that is incredible for a player to score at that rate. Defensively, Staal always left more to be desired, but Eric would always make amends at the other end.
Staal also captained the team and is the longest-serving captain in Hurricanes history. Number 12 captained the team in 2009 to the Eastern Conference Finals and mainly did that himself, scoring vital goals in both series to get them there. He was always scoring. Both times the Hurricanes made the playoffs with him in Raleigh, he led the team in postseason scoring.
The two-time all-star, former all-star captain and all-star MVP did win the cup in 2006 as a rookie. It was an incredible year for Eric Staal. His career year, he finished 4th in the race for the Hart trophy. Staal did everything that year.
In my opinion, no Hurricane ever has been more talented than number 12. Eric Staal has done it all, he’s won cups, hit 100 point seasons, been in the race for major awards, and he often got votes for other trophies too. A two-time all-star, he’s hit the 1000 point mark in his career, and he’s a future hall of fame player in my opinion. Raleigh has never seen a better player, as of now.