A native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Jordan was selected 2nd overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was 2nd in NHL Rookie scoring in the 2006-2007 season and was named to the NHL All-Rookie team. In 2009, Staal and the Penguins won the Stanley Cup. He was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes 2012, uniting him with his older brother Eric.

Internationally, Jordan was a member of Canada’s gold medal winning 2007 World Championship team.