The Carolina Hurricanes activated captain Jordan Staal off of injured reserve earlier on Saturday, signaling his imminent return to the lineup.

Staal has missed the team's last 14 games due to a partial calf tear he suffered just over a month ago in warmups before a game.

It's good timing for Staal's return as well, as the Hurricanes will be playing their final game of the 2026 NHL Global Series in Finland on Saturday.

Canes coach Rod Brind'Amour confirmed the captain's return during his pregame media availability and based on practice lines from Friday, Eric Robinson will be sitting out.

"It's good to get Jordo back," Brind'Amour said. "We're obviously a much better team when he's going at full speed. I don't expect a ton out of him tonight, we'll see how it goes, but got to get him going."

Staal, 38, continues to be a dominant presence on the Hurricanes.

The 2026 Conn Smythe winner plays in every situation for Carolina, including slotting in on the top power play and penalty kill units. 

He's also the team's matchup center at 5v5 and he routinely succeeds at shutting down the opposition's best players.

"It's huge," said Seth Jarvis on Staal's return. "He's a real calming presence in our locker room and on the ice and someone that our team relies heavily on in a lot of situations. So it's huge to have him back in the lineup. A big boost for our group."

To make room for Staal on the roster, defenseman Mike Reilly was placed on waivers.

Shayne Gostisbehere Continuing To Be Key Offensive Dynamo For Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina Hurricanes Netminder Sets Pair Of Franchise Records

Taylor Hall Makes NHL History With Career Milestone

Juuso Valimaki Earns Spotlight Moment In NHL Global Series

Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.