The Florida Panthers will have two Staal brothers on their roster in the 2022-23 NHL season. Veteran center Eric Staal signed a one-year contract with the Panthers on Friday, joining his younger brother Marc in Florida.
This will be the second time two brothers share a locker room. They previously played together during the 2015-16 NHL season with the New York Rangers.
Marc, who plays as a defenseman, signed a deal with the Panthers in July. Eric joined the organization for a tryout around the same time but didn’t immediately sign a deal since the team looked for a way to make the salary cap work.
“I think he’s great for what’s still a relatively young core here,” said Panther’s head coach Paul Maurice. “It’s who he is, as a man, how he trains, how he competes, how he practices, how he chirps out there, how he’s just wired right in. It just makes our organization better.”
Eric Staal is best known for his time with Carolina Hurricanes, where he started his pro career in 2005-06. Staal spent 11 years with the Canes, helping the franchise win Stanley Cup in his rookie season and making four All-Star appearances. He later played with the Rangers, the Minnesota Wild, the Buffalo Sabres, and the Montreal Canadiens.
