Eric Staal looking forward to chance at NHL return with Florida
After not playing in the NHL since Game 5 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, veteran forward Eric Staal will look to make a return with the Florida Panthers.
Earlier this summer, the Panthers signed Staal to a professional tryout contract, meaning he'll attend training camp and play in pre-season games with the hope of earning an NHL deal.
In an interview with NHL.com, Staal said that he is excited for the new opportunity with the Panthers.
He added, "I like the way they're stacked up, and I like the way that they look. They've obviously made some changes and now it's about building toward that and winning the Stanley Cup. That's their goal, and for me to have an opportunity to go to camp to see what I can do with those guys, it's incredibly special and I'm excited to have that chance."
Staal, 37, was not signed to an NHL contract last season and in January, he signed a PTO with the Iowa Wild, Minnesota's affiliate. In four games with Iowa, he put up five points.
The PTO with Iowa set Staal up for an opportunity to represent Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics, twelve years after winning gold with his country at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Staal was ultimately named to Team Canada and made captain. He recorded four points in five games as Canada lost to Sweden in the quarter-finals.
Source: NHL.com.
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APRIL 24, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Kirby Dach | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Alexandre Texier | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Zachary Bolduc | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Dylan Guenther | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Brandon Hagel | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Lane Hutson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Brayden Point | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Mackenzie Weegar | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Logan Cooley | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jake Guentzel | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Clayton Keller | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Nikita Kucherov | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Liam O'Brien | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Arber Xhekaj | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Kailer Yamamoto | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Anderson | - | - | - | |
| Rasmus Andersson | - | - | - | |
| Ivan Barbashev | - | - | - | |
| Evan Bouchard | - | - | - | |
| Michael Carcone | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
| Senators | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 | |
| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
| Panthers | 82 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 84 | |
| Maple Leafs | 82 | 32 | 36 | 14 | 78 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
| Penguins | 82 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 98 | |
| Flyers | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | |
| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
| Islanders | 82 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 91 | |
| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
| Rangers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 121 | |
| Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 112 | |
| Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 104 | |
| Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | |
| Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 86 | |
| Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | |
| Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 72 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | |
| Oilers | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | |
| Ducks | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 90 | |
| Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | |
| Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 | |
| Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 58 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||