I'll be up front with my assessment of this trade for the Carolina Hurricanes. They lost this one, and it's not particularly close. However, while it didn't lead to longevity for the player they acquired, it led to a cool moment for the team's home finale in 2013.
The Staal family is arguably the most important family for the Hurricanes on the ice. Oldest brother, Eric, is the team's all-time leader in games, goals, and points, while second brother, Jordan, is currently the team's captain and will soon pass his brother for most games. However, there's a third Staal brother who suited up for the team.
To make this moment possible, the Hurricanes made a very small trade with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2010, acquiring the signing rights to Jared Staal for a 2010 5th-round pick. The youngest of four, Jared was selected 49th overall by the Coyotes in 2008. After finishing with the Sudbury Wolves, Staal split his first pro season in 2010-11 between Florida and Charlotte.
After spending the entire 2011-12 season in the AHL and again in 2012-13, the Hurricanes decided to call Jared Staal to the NHL in late April 2013, giving him a chance to debut with his brothers. With all three dressing on April 25, 2013, the Staals became the fourth trio of brothers to play for the same team in the same game, and the first since the Stastnys in 1985 with Quebec.
Arizona still made out well in this deal
The reason I'm calling this trade a loss is because of who the Coyotes selected with the pick they acquired. With the 138th pick in 2010, the Coyotes drafted goalie Louis Domingue. While his career has been less about being a flashy world-saving netminder, Domingue's longevity far surpasses that of the youngest Staal brother.
Domingue debuted for the Coyotes in 2015, and he'd play parts of four seasons in the desert. His record wasn't great, but his underlying numbers were decent. He's made a solid career out of being a backup or third-string option, playing for seven NHL teams during his career. You might remember his efforts in trying to help Pittsburgh upset the Rangers in 2022, falling short in Game 7.
They chose a fun game for Jared Staal's debut
The Hurricanes were already out of playoff contention during the lockout-shortened season, but it still meant something to the Rangers, who could clinch a playoff spot with a win in Raleigh. Carolina was struggling across the finish line. With Alexander Semin and Joe Corvo among the players hurt, the Canes were playing this contest with 17 skaters.
Choosing to play all three Staal brothers in the same game was perfect on paper, especially with the Canes facing the Rangers, who employed the third brother, Marc. Unfortunately, he'd been on the shelf after catching a puck in the eye over a month earlier. Still, all three active brothers took the ice together to start the game. Their opening shift was quick, but they were out there as a family.
As for the game, it was a good one. The Rangers controlled the first period after goals by future Hurricane Derek Stepan and Derick Brassard. The Canes bounced back in the second on goals by Jiri Tlusty and Tuomo Ruutu. Tlusty doubled up less than a minute into the third, giving the Canes their first lead on a 2-on-1 with Eric Staal.
The Canes appeared poised to force the Rangers into a must-win finale, but Brad Richards scored a bizarre goal on the power play late in the third. His shot missed wide, but it ricocheted off the boards and hit Dan Ellis' right skate before entering the net. In overtime, the Rangers clinched a playoff spot on Ryan Callahan's winner.
The trio of brothers suited up for the team's finale in Pittsburgh two nights later. The Penguins drummed the Canes, 8-3, after scoring five times in the third period. James Neal recorded a hat trick, and Jussi Jokinen, whom the Canes had traded at the deadline, scored twice. Eric Staal had two helpers, while Jared Staal played 14:30, had two shots on goal, and recorded seven hits.
This two-game stint marked the end of Jared Staal's NHL career. He returned to the AHL the following season, playing two more campaigns with the Checkers, one in the ECHL, and his final in the United Kingdom in 2016-17. He retired to a career of coaching, where he's currently the bench boss for the ECHL's Savannah Ghost Pirates.
Like most others, this is merely a trade that happened and will be remembered, or forgotten, as such. I like to see this as a sign of respect and thanks to the Staal family for what they've done for the team and what they've continued to do over a decade later. It was by no means a big trade, but it gave one family an incredible memory.