A native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Eric was selected 2nd overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes and was named captain of the Hurricanes 2010. In 2006, he helped Carolina win the Stanley Cup as he led all Hurricane players with 28 playoff points. After spending the first 12 years of his NHL career in Carolina and a brief stint in New York, the four-time all-star signed as a free agent in Minnesota prior to the 2016-17 season.

Internationally, Staal played for Canada at the 2007, 2008 and 2013 World Championship and was a member of Canada’s gold medal winning team at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.