Unlike most Canadians in the NHL, Turco did not play major junior hockey, instead playing for the University of Michigan in the NCAA. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars, and went on to play for Michigan that fall. Turco earned many awards in his four years at Michigan, including Rookie of the Year in 1995, Tournament MVP in 1998, and nominations to the First All-Star team in 1997, the Second All-Star Team in 1998, and the All-Tournament Team in 1996 and 1998. After graduating, Turco went to play for Dallas's IHL affiliate, the Michigan K-Wings. In 1999, he was named IHL Rookie of the Year.

After two years playing for the K-Wings, Turco was given the opportunity to back up Ed Belfour in Dallas. He spent the next two years in Dallas gaining experience and showing what he could do. After the 2001-2002 season, Dallas decided to make Turco the starting goaltender, allowing Belfour to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Turco's 2002-2003 season showed that Turco could be much more than a back up. His goals-against average of 1.72 set a modern NHL record thanks to a stingy defense. Miikka Kiprusoff ended the following season with a superior 1.69 average. Turco played in the NHL All-Star Game during the season and the Second All-Star Team following the season, finishing second in Vezina Trophy voting as well (behind Martin Brodeur). His .932 save percentage was also best in the NHL that year. However, he was unable to lead the Stars past the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the Western Conference semi-finals.

During the 2003-04 season, Turco continued to give the Stars quality goaltending, again playing (and starting) in the All-Star Game. However, when the Stars played the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs, Turco struggled, receiving blame from some for the Stars' losing the series in five games.

In the 2005-06 season, Turco won a career-best 41 games, 8 of them in shootouts. However, his goals-against average and save percentage were the worst of his career, and he was not named as a finalist for the Vezina Trophy. Turco's experience in the 2006 playoffs would be eerily similar to the prior season, again losing in five games to the Avalanche. Turco is now 30 years old and has shown no signs of improving his lackluster postseason performance.

Despite his disappointing playoff record, Turco is arguably one of the NHL's top goalies, playing a style somewhat similar to Martin Brodeur.

Turco was selected to play for Team Canada for the 2006 Olympics.