Staal signs 1-year contract worth up to $10 million with Hurricanes

Jordan Staal signed a one-year contract worth up to $10 million with the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.

The contract, which is for the 2027-28 season, has a $900,000 base salary, a $4 million signing bonus, and up to $5.1 million in additional performance bonuses.

The 38-year-old forward is entering the final season of a four-year, $11.6 million contract ($2.9 million average annual value) he signed with Carolina on June 25, 2023.

"I’ve had too much fun with this group here and everything we’ve built," Staal said Thursday. "All I’m focused on now is being the best I can be for this group and chip in any way I can, and I’m going to do that for two more fun years.”

Staal had 36 points (20 goals, 16 assists) in 75 regular-season games last season. He also had 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff games, captaining the Hurricanes to their second championship  (2006).

For his postseason performance, he was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs.

“Jordan is not only our captain, he’s the bedrock of the culture we’ve established in this organization,” Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky said Tuesday. “His leadership and on-ice performance throughout last season and especially in the playoffs was a primary factor in bringing the Stanley Cup back to Raleigh.”

Selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins with the No. 2 pick in the 2006 NHL Draft, Staal has 747 points (318 goals, 429 assists) in 1,403 regular-season games with the Penguins and Hurricanes. He also has 85 points (46 goals, 39 assists) in 181 playoff games, including winning the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2009.

Acquired by Carolina in a trade with Pittsburgh on June 22, 2012, Staal ranks second in Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers history in games played (972), fourth in assists (301) and fifth in points (499). He has been their captain since 2019.

“I enjoy what I’m doing," Staal said Thursday. "I’m having fun for sure, and also I feel good. I’ve been fortunate enough to stay healthy and push my body to where I can contribute and be part of this group. Until one of those things give out or I decide to call it quits, I’m going to keep pushing and enjoying this game I love."

NHL.com independent correspondent Kurt Dusterberg contributed to this report.