VIDEO: Hurricanes salute departed captain Eric Staal

The Carolina Hurricanes seem to agree with the saying: "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

The club feted its former captain Eric Staal before facing off against the St. Louis Blues on Sunday, shortly after Staal was traded to the New York Rangers in a blockbuster deal.

Staal leaves the club after 12 seasons and 909 regular-season games. He departs as the franchise's leader (based on its time in Carolina) in games played, goals (322), assists (453), points (775), hat tricks (13), power-play goals (105), shorthanded goals (16), and game-winning goals (47). He represented the Hurricanes in four All-Star Games and brought home a title in 2006.

That's a legacy, alright.