Hurricanes captain Staal out 1-2 months with torn calf — SkimNews
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- Jordan Staal has a partially torn calf muscle that will sideline the Hurricanes captain for one to two months, the team announced Tuesday.
- Staal was a late scratch for Sunday's game in Philadelphia after the injury flared up during pregame skate warmup; coach Rod Brind'Amour initially said he hoped the issue wasn't serious before confirming the multi-month absence.
- Brind'Amour updated reporters Tuesday that the injury will keep Staal out 'anywhere from a month to two months.'
- Staal has zero points in six games this season while Carolina has opened 5-1-1; the 38-year-old is in his 21st NHL season and anchors the Hurricanes' third line with wingers Jordan Martinook and Nikolaj Ehlers.
- Last postseason Staal earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, scoring six goals in six Stanley Cup Final games against the Vegas Golden Knights and totaling 12 points in 19 postseason games.
- Staal's career totals stand at 1,409 games, 318 goals and 429 assists (747 points); he is a two-time Selke Trophy finalist as the NHL's best defensive forward but has yet to win the award.
- The Hurricanes host the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night as part of the NHL Frozen Frenzy, opening a stretch of at least a month without their top shutdown center.
Why it matters: Carolina's hot 5-1-1 start now faces a meaningful test: the reigning Conn Smythe winner, who shut down opponents' top lines all spring, is out until at least midseason. The Hurricanes' third line — already their most effective defensive unit — loses its captain and anchor, forcing Brind'Amour to reshuffle matchups against top-six scorers during a gauntlet of divisional games.
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