Eric Staal Eric Craig Staal ( born October 29 , 1984 ) is a Canadian ice hockey player and the captain of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League . He is the older brother of Marc Staal , who is playing for the New York Rangers , Jordan Staal , who is playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins , and Jared Staal , who is playing for the AHL ' s Charlotte Checkers . Playing career . Staal grew up playing minor hockey in his hometown of Thunder Bay , Ontario . He played AAA for the Thunder Bay Kings organization and led his Bantam team to an All - Ontario Championship in 1999 - 2000 . After that season , Staal was selected in the 1st round ( 13th overall ) in the 2000 OHL Priority Selection by the Peterborough Petes . Staal was selected second overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes , behind number 1 pick Marc - André Fleury . He had played for the Peterborough Petes of the OHL the year before , scoring 98 points in 66 games . He played his first season in the National Hockey League right after being drafted . In 2004 , Staal played in the YoungStars game as part of the 2004 NHL All - Star festivities . He was named NHL Offensive Player of the Week ( October 23 – 30 , 2005 ) . On October 28 , 2005 , Staal had his first career hat trick against the Philadelphia Flyers . He led the Hurricanes in points during the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs with 28 points as they won the Stanley Cup . Staal was fourth in voting for the Hart Trophy , which is the award for the NHL ' s most valuable player . On July 1 , 2006 , Staal signed a three year , $ 13 . 5 million contract with the Hurricanes . Staal made his first All - Star game appearance in 2007 NHL All - Star game in Dallas , where he scored the Eastern Conference ' s third goal . He and his younger brother Jordan Staal were members of the 2007 Canadian IIHF World Championship team that won gold in a 4 - 2 win against Finland in Moscow . On January 27 , 2008 , at the NHL All - Star Game in Atlanta , Staal recorded 2 goals and an assist . He was also awarded the MVP award for the event . On September 11 , 2008 , Staal signed a seven year , $ 57 . 75 million deal with the Hurricanes beginning in the 2009 / 2010 NHL season . Staal was slated to become a restricted free agent on July 1 , 2009 , but signed despite having 1 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 seventh game of Carolina ' s first round series with the New Jersey Devils . On May 8 , 2009 , Staal scored twice to earn 40 career postseason points and eclipse Ron Francis ' franchise mark of 39 . On January 20 , 2010 , Staal was named team captain , replacing Rod Brind ' Amour who was named an alternate captain . Staal became the fifth captain since the team relocated to Raleigh . On January 18 , 2011 , Staal was named the captain of the 2011 NHL All - Star Game In Raleigh , North Carolina . Personal life . Staal married his longtime girlfriend Tanya VandenBroeke on Friday August 3rd 2007 . He has one son , Parker Lucas Staal , born September 22nd 2009 . He and his wife are expecting their second child , due in December 2011 . International play . Played for Canada in :