Ottawa Senators’ President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Steve Staios was inducted into the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame today as part of the Class of 2024. Staios, a Hamilton native, is being recognized for his success in hockey at both the junior and NHL levels.
Staios was drafted 27th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the second round of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. Over the span of a career that saw him play in 1001 NHL games and total 220 points (56 goals, 164 points), Staios played for the Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, Atlanta Thrashers, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, and New York Islanders.
Staios’ career spanned 18 seasons and saw him play the majority in Edmonton, with whom he became a mainstay on defence. During his tenure with the Oilers, Staios became a fan favourite and served as an alternate captain for the team, providing valuable leadership both on and off the ice. Outside of the NHL, Staios won two gold medals with Team Canada at the World Hockey Championships in 2003 and 2004.
Following his retirement from play in 2012, Staios returned to work in hockey in both management and coaching. In 2012, he was named Player Development Advisor for the Toronto Maple Leafs, before moving to the position of Manager of Player Development for the Leafs in 2014. In 2015, Staios supported the Leafs’ interim coaching staff.
Later in 2015, Staios moved to the OHL where he was named president of the Hamilton Bulldogs. The following year, he was named the team’s President and General Manager. With the Bulldogs, Staios won OHL championships in both 2018 and 2022. Additionally, Staios received the Jim Gregory Award as the OHL’s General Manager of the Year following the 2021-22 season.
In 2022, Staios returned to the NHL to serve as a special advisor to the Oilers’ hockey operations staff. On September 29, 2023, Staios joined the Senators as the President of Hockey Operations. On November 1 of that year, Staios was named interim General Manager of the team, before officially receiving the title on December 31.
With an extensive and impressive resume of hockey achievements like Steve Staios has, it’s easy to understand why he is deserving of his induction into the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame.
