Editing Eric Staal (section)

====Carolina Hurricanes (2003–2016)====
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 [[54th National Hockey League All-Star Game|2004 NHL All-Star festivities]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2004 YoungStars Game rosters |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=1717334 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=February 28, 2019 |date=January 29, 2004}}</ref>

As the [[2004–05 NHL season|2004–05 season]] was cancelled due to a [[2004–05 NHL lockout|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 (sports)|plus-minus]] (+37) and 
shorthanded goals (7) in a season, and was also called for the AHL All Star Classic.<ref name=bio>{{cite web| url = http://hurricanes.nhl.com/ext/staal_mediabio0809.pdf | title = Eric Staal media biography | website = [[Carolina Hurricanes]] | date = March 4, 2008 | access-date = March 4, 2008}}</ref>
[[File:Eric Staal.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Staal with the Hurricanes in 2011.]]
In the [[2005–06 NHL season|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.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=470724 | title = Hurricanes, Staal agree to contract extension | website = [[Carolina Hurricanes]] | date = July 1, 2006 | access-date = July 1, 2006}}</ref>

Staal made his first [[National Hockey League All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] appearance in [[55th National Hockey League All-Star Game|2007 All-Star Game]] in [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]], where he scored the Eastern Conference's third goal. His overall production dipped from the previous season, recording just 70 points.

On January 27, 2008, at the [[56th National Hockey League All-Star Game|2008 NHL All-Star Game]] in [[Atlanta]], Staal recorded two goals and an assist. He was also awarded the MVP award for the event.<ref name = "All-Star MVP">{{cite web |title=All-star game MVP Eric Staal helps set up winner |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/all-star-game-mvp-eric-staal-helps-set-up-winner-1.273235 |website=ctvnews.ca |access-date=February 28, 2019 |date=January 28, 2008}}</ref>

On September 11, 2008, Staal signed a seven-year, $57.75 million extension with the Hurricanes, which was to begin in the [[2009–10 NHL season|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.<ref>{{cite magazine| url = http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/17830-Eric-Staal-agrees-to-sevenyear-US57M-deal-with-Hurricanes.html | title = Eric Staal agrees to seven year $57M deal with Hurricanes | magazine = [[The Hockey News]] | date = July 1, 2009 | access-date = May 6, 2010}}</ref>

On April 28, 2009, Staal capped an improbable comeback by scoring the series-winning goal with 31.7 seconds remaining in Game 7 of Carolina's first-round series of the [[2009 Stanley Cup playoffs|2009 playoffs]] against the [[New Jersey Devils]].<ref name=thn/><ref>{{cite web |title=Hurricanes hit Devils hard with two late goals to steal series |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gametracker/recap/NHL_20090428_CAR@NJ |website=cbssports.com |access-date=February 28, 2019 |date=April 28, 2009}}</ref> His game-winning goal led to the comeback victory being nicknamed “"Shock at the Rock".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Michael |title=This Day in Canes History: April 28 |url=https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/this-day-in-canes-history-april-28/c-316743794 |website=NHL.com |access-date=December 23, 2022 |date=April 28, 2020}}</ref> The Hurricanes went as far as the Eastern Conference Finals, ultimately losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]].

On May 8, 2009, Staal scored twice to earn 40 career post-season points, eclipsing [[Ron Francis]]' franchise mark of 39.{{Citation needed|date=February 2019}}

[[File:Eric Staal 2013-3.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Staal in warm-ups for the [[Carolina Hurricanes|Hurricanes]] in 2013.]]
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 the city of [[Raleigh, North Carolina]], from [[Hartford Whalers|Hartford]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=514280 | title = Eric Staal named captain of the Carolina Hurricanes | website = [[Carolina Hurricanes]] | date = January 20, 2010 | access-date = January 20, 2010}}</ref>

On January 18, 2011, Staal was named one of two team captains for [[58th National Hockey League All-Star Game|2011 NHL All-Star Game]], held in the Hurricanes' home city of Raleigh.<ref>{{cite web |title=E. STAAL & LIDSTROM NAMED TEAM CAPTAINS FOR 2011 NHL ALL-STAR WEEKEND |url=https://www.nhlpa.com/news/1-13520/e-staal-lidstrom-named-team-captains-for-2011-nhl-all-star-weekend |website=National Hockey League Player's Association |access-date=January 18, 2011}}</ref> In the Game, Team Staal fell 10–11 to Team Lidstrom, captained by the [[Detroit Red Wings]]' [[Nicklas Lidström]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Team Lidstrom wins NHL all-star game |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/all-star-game-lidstrom/ |website=Sportsnet |access-date=January 31, 2011}}</ref>