There is a certain type of player who can be incredibly important to winning without always receiving the recognition that comes with it.
They aren't usually the players putting up 90+ point seasons or scoring highlight-reel goals every night. They may not be the most dynamic players on the ice, and much of what they do isn't captured in the box score.
But they consistently find ways to help their team win.
Jordan Staal has built his career on doing exactly that.
As the captain of the Carolina Hurricanes, Staal has become the type of player coaches trust in every situation. He can be relied upon to take important faceoffs, handle difficult defensive minutes and key matchups, kill penalties, compete in the hard areas and provide a steady presence throughout the lineup.
More importantly, he has developed an ability to influence the game in a wide variety of ways.
What connects many of those contributions is his ability to read the play early, anticipate what is coming next and put himself in position to influence the play.
That versatility is what makes players like Staal so valuable.
It's also what can make them easy to overlook.
Not all of the plays that make Staal effective show up on the highlights the next morning.
A faceoff win that starts a possession sequence. A forecheck that forces a defenseman into a bad decision. A defensive read that eliminates a scoring chance before it develops. A puck battle that extends a shift. Subtle positioning that gives a teammate the opportunity to make the more visible play.
Those moments may not generate a point, but they contribute to winning.
And that is often the challenge with evaluating players like Staal. His value isn't necessarily reflected by how much offense he produces or how often he makes the spectacular play. His value comes from how consistently he contributes in different areas of the game.
For much of his career, Staal has been one of those players.
But during Carolina's run to the 2026 Stanley Cup, he elevated his game when the stakes were highest. He continued to play the style of hockey that had made him so valuable throughout his career, while finding another way to contribute when his team needed it most.
The result was a Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy.
For a player who had spent much of his career contributing in ways that could be easy to overlook, there was something fitting about seeing those contributions recognized on the biggest stage.
He didn't need to become a different player.
He simply elevated the player he already was.
And in doing so, he provided another reminder that hockey is about far more than what shows up on the scoresheet.
Net Front Presence
Over the years, Staal has carved out a home for himself around the crease. It is an area where his size, strength, awareness and small-area skill all come together, allowing him to consistently create opportunities in the most dangerous area of the offensive zone.
Staal works his way toward the net, often hovering just outside the blue paint, where he can create chaos and take away the goaltender’s eyes with impeccable timing as plays develop and pucks are funneled toward the crease.
What makes Staal so effective in this role starts with how he establishes himself in front. He is excellent at gaining inside position during net-front battles and keeping the defender on his hip, making him a nightmare for opposing defenders to box out. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Staal’s frame gives him a natural strength advantage over most defenders, or at the very least allows him to neutralize their physical strength.
But his effectiveness isn't simply a product of his size.
His posture and weight distribution play a significant role in making him difficult to box out. Staal gets low, establishes his body position, braces for contact and uses his core strength and balance to maintain his position. He is also excellent at getting underneath a defender’s stick, preventing them from tying up his stick and allowing him to maintain access to the puck.
Once Staal is anchored in front of the net, his skill takes over.
He has an underrated ability to locate and get his stick onto loose pucks within the chaos of goal-mouth scrambles. His small-area skill allows him to corral pucks in tight, maintain possession while fighting through contact and quickly transition from battling for position to creating a scoring opportunity.
His hand-eye coordination makes him an even bigger threat around the crease. Staal can routinely get his stick onto pucks as they travel toward the net, redirecting shots and changing their trajectory just enough to make them difficult for goaltenders to track.
Even when those tips don't find the back of the net, they can create difficult rebounds and unpredictable bounces that turn a routine save into a second-chance opportunity.
Puck Battle Strategy
Puck battles and maintaining possession have become a staple of Staal's game, and they are a major part of what makes him so valuable to the Hurricanes on a shift-by-shift basis.
When Staal enters a puck battle, his size and strength give him an obvious physical advantage. However, what truly separates him in these situations is the strategy he uses to recover the puck and establish possession.
There is a consistent process to how Staal approaches these battles. It starts with scanning and processing the situation to identify potential openings. Staal will often approach a developing battle at a proper angle, with the intention of establishing inside position.
Once he gets his shoulder in front of his opponent's shoulder, he creates an opening to work underneath the opponent's stick. From there, Staal follows his body through the opponent's hands, using his positioning and strength to cleanly separate the player from the puck.
Staal also has a tendency to push through the bottom of an opponent's blade with his stick, sweeping or pushing the puck loose. That allows him to either establish possession himself or direct the puck into an area where a teammate can recover it.
When Staal isn't able to establish inside position, often because he is the second player into the battle, he has another solution. He quickly looks to hit and pin the opponent.
Staal will wrap the opponent with his top hand while using his free hand to force them into the wall and initiate the pin. He then places his hip into the opponent, strategically using his body to lock them into place while he works his stick underneath to fish the puck free.
These details allow Staal to consistently turn contested puck battles into possessions for Carolina. His size gives him the physical tools to win these situations, but his understanding of body position, stick positioning and leverage allows him to consistently apply those concepts.
Forechecking
When Staal gets in on the forecheck, there is a distinct strategy behind his approach. Every movement has a purpose. If he can't secure clean possession, his objective becomes taking away time and space and forcing the opposing defenseman into a difficult decision with the puck.
Carolina's system is designed to apply maximum pressure, and that is an environment where Staal thrives. Whether the Hurricanes are executing a 1-2-2 or a 2-1-2 variation, Staal's ability to scan and process the opposing structure allows him to recognize where the defenseman wants to move the puck as they attempt to break out. From there, he takes the appropriate angle to close efficiently, taking away time and space and eliminating the prime option.
When Staal is F2, that same processing ability becomes especially valuable. He is constantly reading the play and recognizing patterns, anticipating where the puck is likely to be flushed by F1. That allows him to read and react quickly, cutting off the next option before the puck can escape the pressure.
During extended forechecking sequences, Staal's ability to reload becomes another important part of his impact. While Carolina's forechecking unit moves around the zone and the puck gets pushed to the weak side, or an initial pressure attempt is disrupted, Staal is constantly adjusting his position above the puck.
His timing and route selection on these reloads are excellent. He recognizes when the initial pressure has forced the puck into a new area, gets himself back into position above the puck and then selects the appropriate angle to dive in and re-engage, allowing Carolina to sustain pressure rather than allowing the opposing defense to escape cleanly.
That ability to connect each part of the forecheck, combined with his puck battle strategy, makes Staal an important driver of Carolina's ability to sustain pressure and create turnovers.
Loose Puck Recovery
What makes Staal so effective is his processing and positioning. As plays develop, Staal is constantly scanning and processing, with the ability to apply that information in real time. His route selection is filled with purpose, choosing routes that consistently place him in position to make a play without the puck. He'll work through key areas, particularly through the middle of the ice within his role as a center, with excellent timing.
Throughout all of this, Staal is constantly recognizing patterns within the game, allowing him to anticipate how plays will develop and where the puck will end up. Even though we don't typically think of anticipation in these terms, a lot of anticipation within the game comes down to mathematical probability. Players are constantly eliminating potential outcomes and predicting what might happen based on the information they take in and process.
Every piece of information Staal gathers helps narrow down the potential outcomes of a play. The position of his teammates, the positioning of opposing players, the location of the puck, the options available to the puck carrier and the way the play is developing all provide information that can be used to predict what is likely to happen next.
Staal is constantly processing that information and adjusting his positioning accordingly. The result is a player who is often moving toward where the puck is going to end up before it actually gets there.
Staal combines this processing ability with his route selection and positioning to ensure that he's always moving toward where a loose puck could pop out, often eliminating scenarios where he, as a slower player, is put into a straight-line foot race with another player.
Staal's ability to recover loose pucks is a product of everything happening before he ever arrives at the puck. His processing allows him to anticipate, his route selection keeps him moving in the direction of where the puck is going to be, and his pre-puck positioning allows him to secure possession once he gets there.
Faceoff Prowess
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Staal is an absolute workhorse in the faceoff circle, taking 1,512 draws during the 2025-26 season, second-most in the entire league, and winning an impressive 55.5%, giving Carolina one of the league's most reliable options at the dot.
He brings that same combination of size, strength and strategy that makes him successful in other areas of the game to the way he approaches faceoffs.
He's capable of winning draws cleanly, utilizing precise stick path mechanics along with the appropriate torque and leverage. Winning draws cleanly on a consistent basis is a rare trait in the NHL today, with so many centermen having honed in on the art of taking faceoffs. Staal regularly wins draws cleanly on both his forehand and backhand, adjusting his positioning and stick path depending on whether he's taking the draw on his forehand or backhand. Regardless of the scenario, Staal looks to engage with the opponent's stick at a particular angle that allows him to use leverage and torque to push through the blade and snap the puck back cleanly.
It's common for draws to move beyond the initial engagement, meaning neither center wins the puck cleanly. Staal has set strategies for these situations as well.
There are many tools in Staal's faceoff toolbox, including an effective tie-up that blocks the opponent's stick path. From there, he can use his stick to quickly knock the puck back to a teammate, or push forward and use his foot to kick the puck to safety. Timing plays an important role throughout the process, and Staal consistently executes these sequences with precision.
He also places a strong emphasis on maintaining body position and preventing the opposing center from pushing through to pursue the puck, whether Staal wins or loses the initial draw.
There is a highly detailed approach behind every faceoff Staal takes, and that attention to detail is a major reason he has remained so effective in the faceoff circle.
Defensive Play
The foundation of Jordan Staal’s style of play revolves around an uncompromising commitment to defensive responsibility. He handles his center responsibilities with precision, serving as an anchor for the structured defending of the Hurricanes while matching the detailed expectations of head coach Rod Brind’Amour’s system.
Staal’s effectiveness defensively begins with his anticipation. As a low center, he constantly scans the ice, processing where the puck is going, where opposing players are attacking from, and which options need to be eliminated. His positioning allows him to support his defensemen without simply chasing the puck.
When Staal supports his defenseman in the corner, he can overload the battle and enter alongside them, using his size and strength to help recover possession. Other times, he positions himself just outside the battle, anticipating when the puck is going to escape and timing his jump to intercept it as it leaves the area.
That same anticipation shows up when Staal identifies potential threats and locks onto his man away from the puck. He consistently works underneath the opponent's stick, tying it up and effectively eliminating that player as an available option within the development of the play. Rather than simply following his assignment, Staal uses his body position and stick detail to take that opponent out of the play.
When he does engage, Staal attacks with purpose. He often pushes inside-out, working from the slot toward the wall to protect the middle of the ice while closing on the puck carrier. Staal is extremely strong on his stick in these engagements, using his stick to close passing lanes, disrupt possession and kill plays before they can develop.
The combination of anticipation, timing, positioning and being strong on his stick allows Staal to defend proactively rather than reactively. He doesn’t chase the puck around the zone. He’s meticulously identifying the next option, positioning himself to take it away, and forcing the opponent to find another answer.
Penalty Killing
Penalty killing is another area where Jordan Staal’s processing and anticipation become major assets. His ability to read developing plays allows him to identify the most dangerous threats within an opposing PowerPlay and position himself accordingly. He is constantly processing where the puck is going, which options are developing, and which passing lanes need to be taken away.
Staal is particularly effective with his stick positioning. As the puck moves around the perimeter, he continually adjusts his body and stick to close off dangerous seams through the middle of the ice. His reads allow him to recognize which passing lanes present the greatest threat and position himself to eliminate them before the opportunity develops.
This is a critical part of penalty killing. Taking away a dangerous option can be just as valuable as winning possession. Staal consistently identifies the highest-danger option available to the PowerPlay and positions his body and stick to eliminate it.
Those reads force the PowerPlay to work around him. Passing options disappear, plays become more predictable, and opposing players are often forced to move the puck into less dangerous areas. Staal’s positioning can also create opportunities for his teammates to pressure the puck, knowing that one of the most dangerous outlets has already been eliminated.
When the opportunity presents itself, Staal can finish the sequence. His size and strategy allow him to win 50/50 pucks, while being incredibly strong on his stick helps him separate opponents from possession and get valuable clears for his team.
Staal’s penalty killing impact comes from his ability to process the play, identify the danger and consistently take away the options that matter most.
There is a reason Jordan Staal has remained such an important piece of the Carolina Hurricanes for so long.
He is still the player his teammates look toward when a difficult faceoff needs to be won, when an important defensive play has to be made, or when a shift needs to be extended through sheer determination. He is still the captain, still setting the standard through the way he prepares, competes and approaches the game every day.
That leadership carries weight because his teammates have spent years watching him do the work.
Staal’s influence on the Hurricanes extends beyond what happens during a shift. He has become one of the defining figures of the organization, a player who embodies the identity Carolina has built under Rod Brind’Amour. His leadership is rooted in consistency, accountability and a willingness to embrace whatever the team needs from him.
After seeing Staal elevate his game and become such an important part of Carolina's Stanley Cup run, the Hurricanes made the decision to keep their captain in Carolina. GM Eric Tulsky signed him to a one-year extension that will keep him with the team through the 2027-28 season.
There is no need for Staal to become a different player as his career moves forward.
The details that have made him so valuable are still there. The anticipation. The positioning. The timing. The willingness to compete for every puck. The understanding of where a play is going before it gets there.
That’s what made him valuable throughout his 20-year NHL career.
And it’s what made him a two-time Stanley Cup Champion.
Now, as Carolina’s captain prepares to lead the Hurricanes into the next chapter, those same details will continue to define Jordan Staal.
Chris Whalen
Chris Whalen is a Player Development Expert, Hockey Analyst and former OHL Executive with nearly a decade of experience in OHL Hockey Operations. Through executive management, scouting, video coaching and player development, Chris has built a career around analyzing the game and breaking down the decisions, habits and details that separate players at the next level.
Whales' Whiteboard is independent hockey analysis built from hours of video research, with the goal of helping fans see the game a little differently.
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