Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal just confirmed that he isn't thinking about retirement anytime soon, and especially not after winning the 2026 Stanley Cup. 

When he was speaking during the team’s Stanley Cup celebration in Raleigh on Saturday, June 20, the 37-year-old  admitted that he still wants to keep playing and competing for more titles.

"No. I want another one," Staal said when he was asked if he thought about going out on a high note. 

Staal is signed with Carolina till the 2026-27 season. He is the key player in the Hurricanes' run to their second Stanley Cup win in the franchise’s history.

In 19 playoff games, he totaled 12 points (eight goals, four assists), including seven points and six goals in the six-game Final. Staal also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP, becoming the oldest player in NHL history to win that trophy.

He became the first player in 70 years to score in each of the first five games of the championship round.

When he was talking to Sportsnet's Kyle Bukauskas, Staal talked about staying with Carolina for years. He stayed with them even when the team missed the playoffs, rather than moving away.

"Sticking with it, some guys just jump ship, and I believed in this organization, I believe in everyone," Staal said. "It's such an amazing feeling to build something like that and be a part of that."

Staal also spoke about the rush that stuck with him since his first Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009.

"This is something I've been going after ever since we got the first one," Staal said. "You want to win it again and again and again. And what a feeling, what a battle."

His comments show that Carolina will continue to depend on him as a captain as it looks to keep its title next season.

Jordan Staal’s performance during the 2025-26 Season

Staal's role in the Hurricanes this season was mostly about defense rather than scoring. He stood as Carolina's strongest forward in pressure-filled situations. 

This same defensive play was carried into the playoffs, where Staal entered the Stanley Cup Final with a 56.4 win percentage in his playoffs through the postseason, taking 392 face-offs.

And in this final series, he raised that mark to nearly 70 percent and helped Carolina maintain the lead at a high level against Vegas.

By scoring twice from high-danger areas in Game 4 against Vegas, he became the third-oldest player (37 years, 272 days) to record a multi-goal game in the Stanley Cup Final, joining Mark Recchi and Igor Larionov.

Staal scored seven of his eight postseason goals and five of his six Cup Final goals from high-danger areas.

Beyond the numbers, Staal's experience and leadership qualities in the locker room were always appreciated by teammates and coaches throughout Carolina's title run.

What do you think of Staal keeping an eye on another title? Let us know in the comments.

Read more at NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar