Jordan Martinook’s – Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal capped the 2026 Stanley Cup run by winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, and Jordan Martinook described the respect Staal inspires across the dressing room and the ice.
Carolina’s 2026 Stanley Cup banner didn’t just arrive—it came with a familiar name stamped on the biggest moments.
Jordan Staal led the Hurricanes to their second championship in franchise history. then capped the playoff with the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. In the Hurricanes’ dressing room, the admiration for Staal isn’t new. Jordan Martinook put it into words with the kind of blunt honesty teammates give only after it’s been tested.
“You talk to every first-line center that we played throughout these playoffs and I bet you they stay they hate playing against Jordan Staal. And then for him to come out and do what he does in the Cup Final. you can’t put into words what he means to this team. He’s been through the low’s here and now he’s lifted it above his head. I’m so happy for him,” Martinook said, via The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun.
Staal’s postseason didn’t begin with fireworks in the Stanley Cup Final. Entering the series, he was described as having a quieter run. Then Carolina faced the Vegas Golden Knights, and the switch flipped. Staal scored six goals in the first five games of the series. a burst that helped the Hurricanes win the Cup in six games.
For Staal, the moment carried more than just a trophy. It was a long time coming—he previously won the Stanley Cup as a 20-year-old in 2009. He joined the Hurricanes in 2012 after a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
His captaincy has been shaped by both patience and change. Staal has been Carolina’s captain since 2017, when he co-captained the team with defenseman Justin Faulk. He lost the captaincy in 2018, then became the sole captain in 2019 when Justin Williams retired.
By the time the Hurricanes lifted the Stanley Cup as your 2026 champions. the arc felt complete: a captain who had seen lows. stayed respected across the league. and delivered again when the Final demanded it. Even in a league where greatness is measured in stretches. Staal’s final push wasn’t a surprise to those inside Carolina—it was proof.
Carolina Hurricanes Jordan Staal Conn Smythe Trophy playoff MVP 2026 Stanley Cup Vegas Golden Knights Jordan Martinook