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Carolina Hurricanes fans welcome back Eric Staal with ovation (Video)

By Dave Stevenson

Feb 28, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes fan Jack Groh hold up a sign at the end of the game thanking Carolina Hurricanes forward Eric Staal (12) against the St. Louis Blues at PNC Arena. The St. Louis Blues defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes fan Jack Groh hold up a sign at the end of the game thanking Carolina Hurricanes forward Eric Staal (12) against the St. Louis Blues at PNC Arena. The St. Louis Blues defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
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Former Hurricanes captain Eric Staal got a hero’s welcome when he returned to play against his old team.

The Carolina Hurricanes had to make a very tough decision when they traded captain Eric Staal to the New York Rangers at the 2016 NHL trade deadline. When Staal returned to play in PNC Arena for the first time as a member of the opposing team, the former captain received a well deserved hero’s welcome home from Hurricanes fans. He got a long standing ovation as the Hurricanes played a tribute video.

The 31-year-old Staal spent the first 909 games and 11 full seasons of his career with the Hurricanes. His best time with the Hurricanes came when he led Carolina to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup with a team-high 28 points in 25 games in the playoffs. During the regular season in 2005-2006, he had 100 points and finished fourth in the Hart Trophy voting.

Eric Staal had 775 points (322 goals and 443 assists) with the Hurricanes. He has five points (three goals and two assists) in his first 14 games with the Rangers as he tries to take the Rangers on a Stanley Cup run this postseason just like he did with the Hurricanes in 2005-2006. Staal will be a free agent after this season.

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