Staios played right defence in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, Atlanta Thrashers, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, and New York Islanders during his career.

After two more seasons with the Canucks thereafter, Staios was left unprotected for the 1999 NHL Expansion Draft and was selected by the Atlanta Thrashers.

[3] On March 3, 2010, Staios was traded to the Calgary Flames from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Aaron Johnson and a third round draft pick in 2011.

On July 25, 2012, Staios was named Player Development Adviser for the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs.

[9] Staios joined the Edmonton Oilers on October 6, 2022, as a special advisor to the club's hockey operations staff.

On November 1, 2023, Staios was named interim General Manager of the Ottawa Senators following the firing of Pierre Dorion.

He was subsequently named permanent General Manager of the Senators on December 31, while still maintaining his title as President of Hockey Operations.

[13] His son, Nathan Staios, was selected 17th overall in the first round of the 2017 OHL Entry Draft by the Windsor Spitfires.