There are few in the league like the Carolina Hurricanes' captain. Jordan Staal is not going to light the scoreboard on fire every night, like Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews, and he's not an up-and-coming star, like Nick Suzuki. However, he's just as important to the fabric and identity of the Hurricanes, making him one of the team's most valuable players.
The 2025-26 season marks two decades in the NHL for the Canes' captain, which is a rare feat in the league's history. With the Hurricanes, it'll be Staal's 14th season, bringing him one year closer to Ron Francis' organization-record 16, while breaking a tie with Glen Wesley for the second-most. After a slightly resurgent season, there's still plenty for the captain to accomplish this year.
Last season: 13-23-36 in 75 games/2-1-3 in the playoffs
After scoring the team's first and only goal during the season opener, Staal went on an early cold stretch, going ten games without a point. He regained his touch a little in early November, but it was a quiet 2024 for the Canes' captain. By New Year's, Staal had just four goals and 14 points in 37 games. The new year meant a new and revitalized captain.
His best stretch of the season came in early January. Staal was named the second star of the week for January 5-12 after scoring five goals and seven points, including his fourth-career hat trick against Toronto. It paced a 13-point month and kick-started a solid second half. Staal finished with his highest point total (36) in four years and his most assists (23) since 2017-18.
It was a quiet postseason for Staal, who scored just three points across 15 games. He was pointless during the series against New Jersey before finally breaking through late in the Washington series. He picked up an assist in Game 4 and scored a goal in Game 5, oddly similar to his goal in the same barn in Game 7 in 2019. Staal finished his scoring with an empty-net goal in Game 4 in Sunrise.
Bold Prediction: Staal (finally) wins the Selke Trophy
Jordan Staal is already well on his way to making team history this season. His next goal will move him into 10th place in organization history, and he's chasing his head coach for third-most in assists and points in Hurricanes history. To top it off, he'll pass his older brother for the most games in team history (910), which he's projected to break on November 6th, if he stays healthy.
He's also going to reach 300 goals for his career, needing two to hit that milestone. Instead of focusing on his offense, let's talk about his defense. Staal is consistently playing against each team's top line at home, and he usually draws tough assignments on the road. For his efforts, he has been rewarded by voters and given Selke Trophy consideration.
Staal has been named a finalist for the Selke twice during his career, finishing 3rd in 2010 and 2nd in 2024, and has earned votes in 17 of his 19 seasons, including 11 of his 13 with the Canes. However, he's yet to claim the title as the league's Best Defensive Forward. Staal saw a significant step back in voting last season, dropping to 11th in the final vote, though he received five 1st-place votes.
For Staal to win the award, he'll face considerable competition. Florida's Aleksander Barkov has won it the last two seasons. His teammate, Sam Reinhart, is usually in the race. Several point producers will also garner much consideration. It probably won't happen unless Staal puts in one of his best seasons at 37 years old.