Topic: Jordan Staal

Jordan Lee Staal (born September 10, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is regarded as one of the NHL's premier penalty-killers, both for his strong defensive skills, along with his scoring touch that makes him a threat for shorthanded goals.

Staal grew up playing minor hockey for the Thunder Bay Kings AAA organization. After his minor midget year, Staal was selected in the 1st round (3rd overall) by the Peterborough Petes. After a two-year Ontario Hockey League (OHL) career, in which he won a J. Ross Robertson Cup and appeared in the 2006 Memorial Cup with the Peterborough Petes, Staal was drafted second overall by the Penguins in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He made the immediate jump from junior to the NHL after being drafted and set several NHL records in his rookie season, including youngest player to score on a penalty shot, to score two shorthanded goals in one game, to score a hat trick, and the most shorthanded goals by a rookie in one season. Staal was also a Calder Memorial Trophy nominee and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.

Among his Penguins teammates, Staal is known as "Gronk". The nickname, which is a reference to the Marvel comic book supervillain, was given to him by former Penguins teammate Colby Armstrong, because of his strong and large on-ice presence.