Eric Staal

Staal had two goals and five points in four AHL games during a brief stint with the Iowa Wild last season. He then represented Team Canada in the Winter Olympics, scoring a goal and four points in five games. Florida signed Marc Staal to a one-year contract as well, so the Panthers might have both of the brothers on their opening game roster.

Staal agreed to a PTO with Iowa on Thursday as he is trying to get in shape to play for Team Canada at the upcoming Olympic Games in China next month. It was the second goal in as many games for the former NHL star.

Staal is slated to play for Iowa this weekend and hopes to join Team Canada next week for the Winter Olympics. The 37-year-old forward had five goals and 13 points in 53 games with Buffalo and Montreal last season. 

Staal had a nice Stanley Cup run this season but is pining to return home to Minnesota as he has not seen his wife and children in a long time. “It’s pretty fresh, losing out at the end and now for me it’s just about taking a deep breath, decompressing, getting home to my family and then kind of thinking about what lies ahead for myself, for us, for my family,” Staal said. “But I obviously love the game, I love playing, I love competing. Especially when you get with a group like this where guys are so committed to winning in a team game it can turn into something special and the (playoff) run was that. Obviously, didn’t finish off with the result we wanted, but still very proud to have been a part of this group and these guys.” Staal had two goals and eight points in 23 playoff games after scoring only five goals and adding eight assists in 53 games for Buffalo and Montreal.