The 37-year-old center, who last played in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens last season, said the decision was to help him prepare for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, if he were to be selected to play for Canada. The Athletic reported Thursday that the Canada Olympic team called Staal to gauge his interest.
"I guess the chance to represent Canada and the Olympic games is never something you can look away from," Staal said Friday. "That's pretty special and would be an honor if I get that chance. I've been skating on my own for awhile now and kind of waiting to see what was out there or if there was an opportunity for me to play.
"I still have an itch and desire to play. This was kind of a steppingstone to see where I'm at, where my body's at and how I feel and kind of go from there. If it goes well over the next little bit and Canada sees it fit for me to help for them, then I'll be excited to go over there and play for Canada."
Staal had a goal and an assist Friday in his Iowa debut, a 4-3 win against Chicago.
He played 311 games in four seasons with the Wild (2016-20) and scored 1,034 points (441 goals, 593 assists) in 1,293 games during 17 seasons for the Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Wild, Buffalo Sabres and Canadiens after he was chosen by Carolina with the No. 2 pick in the 2003 NHL Draft. Staal scored 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 53 games in his final season.
He helped Canada win a gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and finish first at the 2007 IIHF World Championship.
The NHL announced Dec. 22 its players would not participate in the 2022 Olympics due to the regular-season schedule being disrupted as a result of increasing COVID-19 cases and a rising number of postponed games. As of Thursday, 104 games had been postponed.
Staal said he hasn't closed the door on playing in the NHL again.
"I've had conversations over the last few weeks, months, with a couple different teams but hasn't worked out into an opportunity yet, so like I said, that's why I continue to skate and stay in shape," Staal said. "If that opportunity comes il be ready to go. This is just another step in the type of direction where I an go out there and play a game and compete. I still have that itch and desire to do that. I look forward to the games and whatever happens after that will happen."
NHL.com independent correspondent Jessi Pierce contributed to this report
