Eric Staal

Eric Craig Staal (born October 29, 1984) is a Canadian professional ice hockey center currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, and Buffalo Sabres. Eric is the oldest of the Staal brothers, which include former teammates Marc, Jordan, and Jared.

Carolina Hurricanes
== Staal was selected second overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes, behind number one pick Marc-André Fleury. He played his first season in the NHL right after being drafted. In 2004, Staal played in the YoungStars Game as part of the 2004 NHL All-Star festivities. As the 2004–05 season was cancelled due to a lock-out, Staal spent the year with the Hurricanes' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lowell Lock Monsters. He established new franchise records in points (77), assists (51), plus-minus (+37) and shorthanded goals (7) in a season, and was also called for the AHL All Star Classic. In the 2005–06 season, Staal scored a career-high 100 points during the regular season, and was named NHL Offensive Player of the Week of October 23–30, 2005, the same week in which he scored his first career hat-trick, coming against the Philadelphia Flyers. He then led the Hurricanes in points during the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs with 28 as they won the Stanley Cup. After the season, Staal finished fourth in voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL's most valuable player (MVP). Following the successful season, on July 1, 2006, Staal signed a three-year, $13.5 million contract extension with the Hurricanes. On September 11, 2008, Staal signed a seven-year, $57.75 million extension with the Hurricanes, which was to begin in the 2009–10 season. Staal was slated to become a restricted free agent on July 1, 2009, but signed despite having one year at $5 million remaining on his former contract. On April 28, 2009, Staal capped an improbable comeback by scoring the series-winning goal with 31.7 seconds remaining in the Game 7 of Carolina's first round series of the 2009 playoffs against the New Jersey Devils. The Hurricanes went as far as the Eastern Conference Finals, ultimately losing to the eventually Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins. ==

Player Records (Only for the Canes)

 * Carolina Hurricanes' franchise record for most hat tricks in a single season – 4 (2008–09)
 * Carolina Hurricanes' franchise record for most career post-season points – 43
 * Carolina Hurricanes' franchise record for consecutive games – 349 (2004–2009)