Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal recently shared his initial reaction to Sebastian Aho joining the team in 2016, revealing he was unimpressed by the hype surrounding the young player. Staal discussed his feelings on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, describing his blunt assessment at the time. His skepticism stemmed from the recent trade of his brother and star player, Eric Staal, to the New York Rangers which was a deeply disappointing experience. Staal was processing that loss when the team began to promote Aho as a future star. He did not initially embrace the idea of another young player being elevated within the organization so quickly. The revelation provides a glimpse into the dynamic within the Hurricanes during a period of transition and change.