Jordan Staal
A towering, defensively brilliant center who became one of the NHL's most trusted shutdown forwards and a cornerstone captain for Carolina.
Born 1988 (age 38)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: September 10·Millennials
Biography
Jordan Staal entered the NHL with immense expectation as the second overall pick in 2006, joining a Pittsburgh Penguins team led by his older brother, Eric. He immediately carved out a unique role, not as a flashy scorer but as a defensive powerhouse. At 6'4", his long reach and hockey intelligence made him a nightmare for opposing top lines, and he set a record as the youngest player to score a playoff hat-trick. After a trade to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2012, he was reunited with Eric and eventually named captain, embodying the team's identity of structured, relentless play. His career is defined not by point totals but by minutes logged against the league's best, crucial face-off wins, and a quiet leadership that helped transform the Hurricanes into perennial contenders.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jordan was born in 1988, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jordan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1988
#1 Movie
Rain Man
Best Picture
Rain Man
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Jordan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1988Born
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1993Started school
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2001Became a teenager
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Could drive
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2006Could vote
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Turned 21
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2018Turned 30
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 38 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009 as a key defensive forward.
- Became the youngest player in NHL history to score a hat trick in the playoffs, achieving the feat at age 18 in 2007.
- Named the 15th captain of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2019, leading the team to multiple playoff appearances.
Did You Know?
All three Staal brothers (Eric, Jordan, and Marc) played together for the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2012–13 season.
He scored a shorthanded goal in his first NHL shift.
Staal and his wife grew up in the same small Ontario town (Thunder Bay) but did not meet until they were both living in Pittsburgh.
“My job is to shut down their best players and make it tough on them every shift.”
