ABOUT ERIC STAAL
Position: Center • Size: 6-4, 205 pounds
Age: 31 (born Oct. 29, 1984, in Thunder Bay, Ontario)
Drafted: First round, second overall, in 2003 (behind Pittsburgh goalie Marc Andre-Fleury) by Carolina after playing junior in Peterborough (Ontario Hockey League).
NHL statistics: 12 seasons, 909 games, 322 goals, 453 assists, 775 points, plus/minus -58, 678 penalty minutes.
Highlights: Won Stanley Cup in 2006 with Carolina at age 21 and led playoff scoring that season with 28 points after a 45-goal, 55-assist, 100-point regular season. Four-time All-Star. Also won gold medal with Team Canada at the 2010 Olympics.
Brother act: Marc and Jordan are playing in the NHL; another brother, Jared, played in two NHL games with Eric in Carolina.
Family: Wife, Tanya; sons Parker, 7, Levi, 4, and Finley, 18 months.
Contract: Signed a three-year, $10.5 million deal with the Wild as a free agent in July.
