Marc Staal Marc Staal ( born January 13 , 1987 ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League . He is the younger brother of Eric Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes , and older brother of Jordan Staal of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Jared Staal , who plays in the Hurricanes organization . Early career . Staal played junior hockey from 2003 – 2007 for the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey League where he was the team ' s captain , and led the Wolves to their first trip to the OHL finals in 30 years . He was drafted by the New York Rangers in 2005 NHL Entry Draft in the 1st round , 12th pick overall . Staal played for Team Canada in the 2006 and 2007 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships bringing home gold both times . He was named the tournament ' s top defenceman in the 2006 Championships . Marc and younger brother Jared played together in Sudbury during 2006 – 07 . On May 7 , 2007 , the Ontario Hockey League announced that Staal was the recipient of the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL ' s Most Outstanding Defenceman for the 2006 – 07 season . This prestigious award was previously won by the likes of future NHL players such as Chris Pronger , Al MacInnis , and Denis Potvin . On May 13 , 2007 , although his Sudbury team lost the OHL Championship Series to Plymouth in six games , Staal was named the winner of the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award , which goes to the league ' s postseason MVP . NHL career . On October 4 , 2007 , Staal made his NHL debut for the New York Rangers and Head Coach Tom Renney , who would use him in that first season primarily in a defensive role . He would record his first NHL point against the Washington Capitals on November 1 , 2007 , when Chris Drury deflected his shot in for a goal , giving Staal an assist . Staal scored his first NHL goal soon after - on November 14 , 2007 - against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center . His wrist shot from the left faceoff circle sailed over the outstretched glove of goaltender Martin Brodeur and deflected in off the crossbar . Assisting on his first goal in the NHL were teammates Scott Gomez and Brendan Shanahan . During 2007 - 08 , Staal was one of sixteen rookies selected to participate in the YoungStars competition at the 2008 NHL All - Star Game in Atlanta , where he scored a goal and added an assist . Staal finished his rookie season with 10 points on the strength of 2 goals and 8 assists . But more importantly , he established himself as a reliable defender , posting a positive plus / minus rating at + 2 , as the Rangers qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs . He saved his best for the playoffs , with his first NHL playoff goal and two assists to help the Rangers defeat the Devils in 5 games during the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal . The goal was important - in the pivotal Game 4 , Staal ' s slapper broke a 3 - 3 deadlock late in the third period and stood to be the game winning goal in a 5 - 3 victory that gave the Rangers a 3 games to 1 lead in the series . Like his first regular season goal , it also came against goalie Martin Brodeur . However , despite their win over the Devils in the Conference Quarterfinal , the Rangers would fall to the eventual Stanley Cup runner - up Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Semifinals . In 2008 - 09 , Staal improved his offensive output to 15 points , scoring 3 goals and adding 12 assists - all career highs . He returned to the YoungStars Competition as a sophomore at the 2009 NHL All - Star Game in Montreal , and scored two goals . Late in the season , a coaching change led to a more offensive philosophy designed to propel the Rangers into the playoffs . The defensive minded Tom Renney was replaced by John Tortorella who encouraged more offense from all of his players , including Staal . As a result , much of Staal ' s production came towards the end of the season - 6 of his 15 points came after the coaching change , in just 21 games ( as opposed to 9 in 61 under Renney ) . The Rangers would again qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs on the strength of their strong finish , but this time were defeated in the first round by the Washington Capitals in seven games after blowing a 3 - 1 series lead . During the series , Staal would record his second career NHL playoff goal . In the summer of 2009 , Marc was invited - along with his brothers Eric and Jordan - to try out for the Canadian Olympic men ' s ice hockey team competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver . However when the team was named on December 30 , 2009 , Eric was the only Staal named to the squad . Meanwhile , now in his third year , Staal began to transition into more of a two way role for the Rangers during 2009 - 10 as the development of his offense continued under Coach Tortorella . Staal enjoyed the first four game point streak of his career from 11 / 27 / 09 to 12 / 5 / 09 ( 1 goal , 3 assists over the span ) . Though the Rangers would miss the playoffs for the first time in Staal ' s career , he would establish new career highs with 8 goals , 19 assists , 27 points , and a career best + 11 rating during the season . He saved his finest for late in the year , scoring a beautiful coast - to - coast goal against Florida Panthers goalie Scott Clemmensen on April 3 , 2010 after receiving the puck from teammate Henrik Lundqvist in the defensive zone . For Staal , it capped a three game goal - scoring streak and ignited a Rangers comeback in an eventual 4 - 1 victory that kept the Rangers ' playoff hopes alive a little longer . The team would ultimately miss the playoffs on the final day of the season , losing a 2 - 1 heartbreaker in a shootout to the Philadelphia Flyers , who usurped the eighth and final playoff spot from them for the victory . Staal led all Ranger skaters in ice time during the final game , on - ice for an eye popping 29 : 16 of the game ' s 65 minutes of team play and turned in a strong defensive effort , finishing at + 1 . In 2010 , Marc became a restricted free agent for the first time . Though negotiations between Staal ' s camp and New York Rangers General Manager Glen Sather were often slow , Marc signed a five - year , $ 19 . 875 million extension for the team on September 15 , 2010 - comparatively late , but still in time to prepare for the upcoming season . After a strong training camp , Rangers Coach John Tortorella recognized Staal ' s leadership qualities in October 2010 by naming him an alternate captain at the young age of 23 . During the 2010 - 2011 season , Staal was chosen for the first time to participate in the 2011 NHL All - Star Game in Carolina . During the game , he enjoyed a rare opportunity to play on the same team as brother Eric . Playing Style . Staal is an excellent skater and defender . Defensively , Staal is an adept shot blocker , and penalty killer . Offensively , he is a smart passer who makes the intelligent plays to his teammates . Due to his skating ability , he often tries to join the offensive rush despite being a defenceman . He has a very accurate wrist shot and a hard slapshot that has improved in accuracy since his NHL debut . His improving offense led him to see more ice time on the power play beginning in the 2010 - 11 season , where he can apply those offensive skills more directly in the scoring effort . Upon bursting onto the NHL scene , the New York Rangers coaching staff primarily used him in a defensive role . However his point totals improved steadily his first few years in the NHL , and each year from 2007 - 08 to 2009 - 10 he established new career highs in goals , assists , and points . Staal is also known for his hard open - ice body checks . Staal has thrown many hard open - ice hits into well known NHL players , including Sidney Crosby , Alex Ovechkin , his brother Jordan Staal , Mike Comrie , and Mike Knuble . One of his hardest hits was delivered on Calgary ' s Matt Stajan in November 2010 . As Stajan skated into the offensive zone , he prepared to send a pass toward his left . Unknown to Stajan , who had turned to follow his pass , Staal was coming across from Stajan ' s right and delivered a clean , hard shoulder to shoulder hit that left Stajan struggling on the ice . The hit dislodged Stajan ' s helmet and stick . Almost immediately , the hit prompted questions about whether or not it was clean , due to a new NHL rule for the 2010 - 2011 season that banned blindside hits to the head . However , reviews of the play indicated the principal point of contact had been the shoulder . Staal , generally known as a clean player , was neither suspended nor penalized for the hit ( since it was clean ) . Had he been suspended , the suspension would have been his first in the NHL . The hit knocked Stajan out of the game , and Stajan would miss the next two of his team ' s contests with an " upper body injury " , although he was not diagnosed with a concussion as many feared . Of the hit , Staal defended the play , simply saying : For his part , Stajan held no ill will towards Staal for the hit , responding : Staal has also been known to drop the gloves and fight on occasion , although it is rare for him to do so due to his value as a defensive player . Personal life . Staal married his longtime girlfriend Lindsay on Friday August 12 , 2011 . They have known each other since high school . He proposed to her on Christmas Day , 2010 .