Eric Craig Staal (born 29 October 1984 in Thunder Bay, Ontario) is a Canadian ice hockey player and alternate captain for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. He is the older brother of Jordan Staal, who is playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Marc Staal, who is playing for the New York Rangers, and Jared Staal, who was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft but is currently playing for the AHL's San Antonio Rampage.