Canada's Eric Staal (centre) joined the Triple Gold Club at the 2010 Olympics.
photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Jukka Rautio
Triple Gold Club member shone with Canada and Carolina
Eric Staal has announced his retirement from hockey. The veteran Canadian centre leaves behind a proud and unique legacy as a Triple Gold Club member.
Staal, the longtime captain of the Carolina Hurricanes, signed a one-day deal with that NHL club. He will have his #12 jersey retired in Raleigh, North Carolina sometime next season.
“I want to thank my family, former teammates, coaches and staff members who played a role in helping me live my dream, playing in the NHL,” Staal said in a statement. “I will forever treasure the memories and friendships made during my 18 years in the world’s best league.”
The 39-year-old native of Thunder Bay, Ontario last played with the Florida Panthers during their run to the 2023 Stanley Cup finals against the Vegas Golden Knights. He also suited up for four other NHL clubs, including the New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Buffalo Sabres, and Montreal Canadiens. With 455 career goals and 608 assists for 1,063 points, he ranks 76th among all-time NHL scorers.
Staal earned his Triple Gold Club entry by age 25, and he did so by winning a Stanley Cup, IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship gold medal, and Olympic gold medal on his very first tries. He is the only player ever to achieve that distinction.
As an NHL sophomore, Staal led his first playoffs in scoring (9+19=28) when the Canes captured their first Cup in 2006, edging out the Edmonton Oilers in a dramatic seven-game series. In 2007, the dynamic playmaker shone as a World Championship rookie in Moscow with 10 points (5+5=10), scoring goals in Canada’s 4-1 semi-final win over Sweden and the 4-2 gold-medal victory over Finland.
At the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Staal joined Sidney Crosby and Jarome Iginla on the top Canadian line as the host nation thrillingly nipped the archrival U.S. 3-2 in overtime in the gold medal game. Staal finished with six points (1+5=6).
Staal’s IIHF history also features a 2008 World Championship silver medal from Quebec City and a 2013 fifth-place finish in Stockholm. The 193-cm, 88-kg forward completed his international career by captaining Canada’s sixth-place squad at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
The former Peterborough Petes ace has certainly measured up to the expectations set when he was chosen second overall by Carolina in the stacked 2003 NHL Draft. A six-time NHL All-Star Game participant, he remains the Canes’ franchise leader in many categories in their post-Hartford Whalers incarnation. These include games played (909), goals (322), assists (453), points (775), power play goals (105), power play points (252), and hat tricks (13).
While Staal’s younger brothers Marc (Philadelphia Flyers) and Jordan (Carolina) both competed in the NHL last year, very few of his Triple Gold Club peers remain active professionally.
Fellow Canadian NHL veterans Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins, TGC 2015) and Corey Perry (Edmonton, TGC 2016) are under contract for 2024-25. Czechia’s Jaromir Jagr (Kladno, TGC 2005) – a 2024 IIHF Hall of Fame inductee – will play again next year at age 52. Meanwhile, Finland’s Valtteri Filppula (Genève–Servette, TGC 2022) has not decided yet whether he will continue his career at 40.
Eric Staal’s credentials could earn him consideration for both the IIHF Hall of Fame and the Hockey Hall of Fame. In any scenario, he has carved out his place in hockey history.
Eric Staal has announced his retirement from hockey. The veteran Canadian centre leaves behind a proud and unique legacy as a Triple Gold Club member.
Staal, the longtime captain of the Carolina Hurricanes, signed a one-day deal with that NHL club. He will have his #12 jersey retired in Raleigh, North Carolina sometime next season.
“I want to thank my family, former teammates, coaches and staff members who played a role in helping me live my dream, playing in the NHL,” Staal said in a statement. “I will forever treasure the memories and friendships made during my 18 years in the world’s best league.”
The 39-year-old native of Thunder Bay, Ontario last played with the Florida Panthers during their run to the 2023 Stanley Cup finals against the Vegas Golden Knights. He also suited up for four other NHL clubs, including the New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Buffalo Sabres, and Montreal Canadiens. With 455 career goals and 608 assists for 1,063 points, he ranks 76th among all-time NHL scorers.
Staal earned his Triple Gold Club entry by age 25, and he did so by winning a Stanley Cup, IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship gold medal, and Olympic gold medal on his very first tries. He is the only player ever to achieve that distinction.
As an NHL sophomore, Staal led his first playoffs in scoring (9+19=28) when the Canes captured their first Cup in 2006, edging out the Edmonton Oilers in a dramatic seven-game series. In 2007, the dynamic playmaker shone as a World Championship rookie in Moscow with 10 points (5+5=10), scoring goals in Canada’s 4-1 semi-final win over Sweden and the 4-2 gold-medal victory over Finland.
At the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Staal joined Sidney Crosby and Jarome Iginla on the top Canadian line as the host nation thrillingly nipped the archrival U.S. 3-2 in overtime in the gold medal game. Staal finished with six points (1+5=6).
Staal’s IIHF history also features a 2008 World Championship silver medal from Quebec City and a 2013 fifth-place finish in Stockholm. The 193-cm, 88-kg forward completed his international career by captaining Canada’s sixth-place squad at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
The former Peterborough Petes ace has certainly measured up to the expectations set when he was chosen second overall by Carolina in the stacked 2003 NHL Draft. A six-time NHL All-Star Game participant, he remains the Canes’ franchise leader in many categories in their post-Hartford Whalers incarnation. These include games played (909), goals (322), assists (453), points (775), power play goals (105), power play points (252), and hat tricks (13).
While Staal’s younger brothers Marc (Philadelphia Flyers) and Jordan (Carolina) both competed in the NHL last year, very few of his Triple Gold Club peers remain active professionally.
Fellow Canadian NHL veterans Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins, TGC 2015) and Corey Perry (Edmonton, TGC 2016) are under contract for 2024-25. Czechia’s Jaromir Jagr (Kladno, TGC 2005) – a 2024 IIHF Hall of Fame inductee – will play again next year at age 52. Meanwhile, Finland’s Valtteri Filppula (Genève–Servette, TGC 2022) has not decided yet whether he will continue his career at 40.
Eric Staal’s credentials could earn him consideration for both the IIHF Hall of Fame and the Hockey Hall of Fame. In any scenario, he has carved out his place in hockey history.