Staal to become youngest player in NHL history to play 200 regular -season games

Pittsburgh Penguins center Jordan Staal will become the youngest player in NHL history to play 200 regular-season games when he takes the ice Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins at Mellon Arena. Staal was born on Sept. 10, 1988 and will be 20 years, 111 days at the time of his historic achievement.

Patrick Marleau of the San Jose Sharks was 20 years, 115 days when he played his 200th game in the 1999-2000 season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Staal, a native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, was the Penguins’ first-round draft pick (2nd overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He made the team as an 18-year-old rookie in 2006-07 and played 81 games that season, followed by 82 games in 2007-08. He has played all 36 games for the Penguins this season.

Through 199 career NHL regular-season games, Staal has 52 goals and 39 assists for 91 points.