Staals' remarkable longevity in the NHL culminates in his 1,400th game, a testament to dedication, discipline, and enduring passion for the sport.
Jordan Staal is set to become the sixth active player and 48th all-time to appear in 1,400 career regular season games when the Carolina Hurricanes take on the Columbus Blue Jackets Thursday night in Raleigh.
The Carolina Hurricanes captain has dedicated his entire life to hockey, practically born with skates already laced up in Thunder Bay, Ontario as the second youngest of four brothers, all of whom made it to the NHL.
But now in his 20th career season in the NHL, more than half of the 37-year-old's entire life, Staal will be the first in his family to reach the 1,400 game mark.
"That's quite a feat and to do it the way he's done it, which is every night, just as hard as you can, that's quite impressive," said Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour, who himself played in 1,484 career NHL games.
And while it may seem like an eternity for most, for Staal, the journey honestly hasn't felt that long.
"It just kind of makes me sound old," Staal said, thinking about game 1,400. "The days are long but the years go by quick and it kind of feels like the blink of an eye at times. It's gone quick, but it's been a heck of a ride."
It's not an easy task to make it as long as Staal has in a league as physically and mentally demanding as the NHL, yet the veteran has managed it while still continuing to be an impact player on one of the best team's in the league too.
Exercise regiments, sleep habits, diet. All these things contribute to potential longevity, but there's no one set course that an athlete follows. One has to continue to adapt as they get older too.
"Eating habits alone is a big thing," Staal said. "As you get older, obviously you can get bigger quick and certain things. I've learned a lot over the years on how to take care of yourself. I've seen a lot of great players do it in front of me and I learned quickly that to stay in the league, you have to do all the right things on a daily basis and commit to it."
But even beyond staying physically ready, to play this long, one has to be mentally committed too, something easier said than done.
"Obviously you have to take care of yourself," Staal said. "You have to be committed every day, all day and make sure that you're ready to go. But obviously you have to enjoy it too. It can't be a burden on you to play this long and so I enjoy it. I love coming to the rink every day and I enjoy playing with these guys and I enjoy the grind."
Part of what keeps Staal — who has already reached the pinnacle of the sport, winning the Stanley Cup in 2009 — going, is the enjoyment he still derives each and every day.
It's a difficult and demanding sport, but he still enjoys every day, and that's a testament to the people he's surrounded by, even as his teammates continue to get progressively younger and younger.
"You don't really ever feel out of the loop," Staal said. "Maybe there are times where you have a family and other guys are in different stages of their life, but for the most part, when you get into this room, you're just one of the guys. You could be 18 or 37 and you still feel like you fit in. That's the great part of this room. It's just been a lot of fun."
"We're a family," Brind'Amour said. "You want to create that and you need the right people to do that. Clearly, we have that and he's the leader of all of it."
There have certainly been times when Staal has questioned himself and his desire to keep pushing...
"There's times," Staal said. "Moments where some days are longer than others, but I lean on a lot of naps and my wife with taking care of everything at home. There's definitely been some moments where you question it, but not a whole lot. It's still a fun ride."
... but in the end, he's still fully committed to playing for himself and his team.
I mean, just look at how he's performed this year.
The Hurricanes captain has had another big year, playing in all situations and breaking the 30-point marker, and to top it all off, he's just a single goal away from his highest scoring season in over a decade.
He's been an absolute force for Carolina and he hasn't shown any signs of slowing down yet.
That's not to say there's any guarantee that he plays beyond his current deal — Staal has one year remaining on his contract and he'll be 39 heading into the 2027-28 season — but with the way he takes care of himself, I could see him continuing to play and pushing for 1,500 career games.
"I'd certainly love to keep him as long as he wants to do it because we know how valuable he is," Brind'Amour said.
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