Eric Craig Staal (born October 29, 1984) is a Canadian professional ice hockey center currently playing for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild. Eric is the oldest of the Staal brothers, which include former teammates Marc, Jordan, and Jared. Staal is a member of the Triple Gold Club, having won the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006, and both the 2007 World Championships and the 2010 Winter Olympics with Team Canada. Early life Staal was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, the son of sod farmers Henry and Linda Staal. All four of…