Paul Stastny

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Paul Stastny
Born (1985-12-27) December 27, 1985 (age 38)
Quebec City, QC
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Center
Shoots Left
NHL team Colorado Avalanche
NHL draft 44th overall, 2005
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2006–present

Paul Stastny (born December 27, 1985) is a Canadian-American professional ice hockey center of Slovak descent who plays for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). Stastny is the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Peter Šťastný, who played for the Avalanche franchise when it was the Quebec Nordiques.[1] Paul's older brother Yan has played for the Boston Bruins, the Edmonton Oilers, and the St. Louis Blues, and his uncles Anton and Marián Šťastný both played for the Nordiques during the 1980s.

Stastny began his junior hockey career with the River City Lancers of the United States Hockey League before moving to the University of Denver Pioneers in 2004. He won the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship in his first season playing for the Pioneers. He would remain at the University of Denver for one more season. He signed a contract with the Avalanche before the 2006-07 NHL season, scored 78 points in 82 games in his rookie season and was nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy. In 2007–08 he was named to his first NHL All-Star Game, but did not play because of an appendicectomy. As a dual citizen, Stastny has chosen to play for the United States in international hockey competitions, which have included the 2004 Viking Cup and the 2007 IIHF World Championship.

Stastny, a left-handed center, considers himself to be a playmaker. His style is similar to his father's, with characteristics such as strong skating and ability to see the game. Stastny is one of the few remaining NHLers who continue to use wooden sticks.

Early years

Paul Stastny has numerous family relatives who have played in the NHL. He is the son of Czechoslovak defector and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Peter Šťastný, the first European-trained player to reach 1,000 points in the NHL,[2] and the nephew of retired NHL players Anton and Marián.[3] Peter and Anton were the first two out of the three brothers to come to North America, in 1980; they were smuggled, along with Peter's pregnant wife with the help of the Quebec Nordiques' owner Marcel Aubut and chief scout Gilles Leger out of Czechoslovakia to Austria.[4] Marián arrived a year later, when Peter and Anton raised the $30,000 needed to bribe officials of the Czechoslovak government.[4] All three played for the Quebec Nordiques from 1981 to 1985, which was only the second time that three brothers played for the same team in the NHL at the same time;[3] the first three brothers who had played for the same team were Reg, Doug and Max Bentley.[5] Paul's older brother Yan has played for the Boston Bruins, for the Edmonton Oilers, and most recently for the St. Louis Blues. He currently plays for the Blues' American Hockey League affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen.[6] Peter and Paul Stastny currently rank fourth all-time in total scoring by a father-son combination in the NHL.[3]

Stastny was born in Quebec City, Canada, to Peter and Darina Šťastný, while Peter was playing for the Nordiques. He spent his early years in Quebec and in New Jersey, following his father's career.[7] Peter joined the St. Louis Blues in 1993 and settled there after finishing his player career, working as a scout for the team.[7] Paul graduated from Millard North High School in Omaha, Nebraska while playing for the River City Lancers in Council Bluffs, Iowa, just across the Missouri River.[8] He has mentioned "religion, education and the importance of family" as important values in his upbringing.[9] He has also spoken about his father's help in making him a better player.[10] Being born in Canada to an American mother, Stastny and his brother Yan have dual citizenship.[11]

Playing career

Amateur career

Stastny began his junior ice hockey career in 2002 with the River City Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL), playing with the team for two seasons, scoring 107 points in 113 games.[9] In 2002–03, the Lancers finished the regular season fourth in the West Division and progressed to the playoffs.[12] After advancing two rounds, the Lancers lost in the Clark Cup final against the Lincoln Stars.[13] In 2003–04, the Lancers finished third in the West Division and lost in the first round of the playoffs against the Sioux City Musketeers.[14][15] Stastny's 77 points in 56 games ranked him second in the league behind teammate Mike Howe.[16]

Stastny entered the University of Denver to play for the Pioneers in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 2004.[9] Despite entering college hockey younger than the usual USHL player, Stastny scored 45 points in 42 games in his first season in Denver to help the Pioneers win the WCHA regular season and playoffs.[17] Stastny then helped the team win its second NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship in a row by scoring two power-play goals in the final game at the 2005 Frozen Four tournament against North Dakota.[18][19] Stastny won the award for WCHA Rookie of the Year and was part of the WCHA All-Rookie Team and the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team.[20]

In 2005–06, Stastny scored 53 points in 39 games and finished 7th overall in the NCAA scoring list, tied with Matt Carle for the Pioneers' scoring lead.[21] He scored 44 points in 28 conference games to win the WCHA scoring title.[22][23] He was part of the WCHA First All-Star Team and the NCAA West Second All-American Team, as the Pioneers finished the WCHA regular season in second place and lost in the first round of the playoffs against the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.[24] At the end of the season, Stastny left the University of Denver as a business major.[25]

While in St. Louis he attended Chaminade College Preparatory School.

Colorado Avalanche

Stastny being mentored by Joe Sakic, who was mentored by Paul's father Peter when he started his career with the Nordiques

Stastny was draft-eligible in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, but opted out of the draft.[26] Prior to the draft, the NHL's Central Scouting Service (CSS) ranked him as the 49th best North-American skater available.[27] Ranked by CSS as the 74th best in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft,[28] he was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the second round, 44th overall. Before moving to Denver in 1995, the Colorado Avalanche were the Quebec Nordiques, the team for which his father played from 1980 to 1990 and had his jersey number retired. Stastny signed a multi-year contract with the Avalanche on July 24, 2006, and began his professional career in the 2006–07 NHL season.[29] Before training camp, it was not expected he would start the season with the Avalanche, but rather for an affiliate team of the Avalanche.[7][17] However, Steve Konowalchuk's career-ending heart problem opened a roster spot and Stastny's play impressed Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville.[17][30] Stastny started the season with the jersey number 62 until his teammate John-Michael Liles changed his to let Stastny use number 26, the same his father wore when he played for the franchise while it was in Quebec.[31] Stastny had his first NHL assist on a goal by Wojtek Wolski in his third NHL game, on October 8 against the Vancouver Canucks.[32][33] On October 21, in his eighth NHL game and first wearing number 26, Stastny scored his first NHL goal in Montreal against David Aebischer of the Canadiens.[34]

On February 21, 2007, Stastny scored two goals and passed Alex Tanguay's total of 51 points to set a new Colorado Avalanche record for points by a rookie.[35] His father holds the franchise record with 109.[35] Between February 3 and March 17, he had a 20-game scoring streak, breaking not only his father's franchise rookie record of 16 games, but also the NHL rookie record of 17 games that belonged to Teemu Selänne.[36][37] He scored 11 goals and had 18 assists during that period and became the third-youngest player in NHL history to record a 20-game scoring streak, following Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky.[36][38] At the start of the season, Wojtek Wolski was the Avalanche player seen as favorite to contend for the Calder Memorial Trophy; however,[39] the scoring streak put Stastny into contention as well.[40] Stastny's play was one of the reasons the Avalanche experienced their best run of the season towards the end,[41] winning 15 of their last 19 games but missing the playoffs by one point. Stastny ended his rookie season with 78 points, finished second to Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin in the voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy and was named to the 2006–07 NHL All-Rookie Team.[42][36]

Coming into his sophomore season, Stastny admitted the pressure would increase during the year.[38] He continued the strong finish of his rookie year,[43] by scoring his first career hat-trick against Marty Turco of the Dallas Stars in the season's first game and scoring five points for the first time four days later, against the San Jose Sharks.[44][45] He scored 15 goals and had 28 assists in his first 34 games of the season, and had his 100th NHL point in his 99th NHL game.[46][47] At the same time, Stastny hit a slump, during which he had one point in eight games.[46] With the Avalanche having lost top players Joe Sakic and Ryan Smyth to injuries, Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News pointed to Stastny's inconsistency and wrote it was time for Stastny to step up and be a leader in all aspects.[48] Despite being on the longest scoreless streak of his career, which lasted 10 games, on January 11, 2008, the NHL announced Stastny would be playing at the 56th National Hockey League All-Star Game.[49] He scored two goals and three assists in three games before the Colorado Avalanche announced six days later that Stastny would be missing approximately two to three weeks, including his first All-Star Game to have his appendix removed.[50] After recovering from the surgery and returning to skating, he suffered a groin injury during a practice, delaying his return.[51] Stastny would end up missing 15 games, but he scored a goal on his comeback against the Phoenix Coyotes on February 22.[46] He scored seven goals and had 15 assists until the end of the regular season, missing a game due to flu on March 20.[46][52] With 71 points scored, he finished the regular season as the team's scoring leader and the Avalanche finished 6th in the Western Conference, progressing to the playoffs to play against the Minnesota Wild.[53] Stastny failed to score a point until the fifth game, when his game winning goal gave the Avalanche the lead in the series.[54] Colorado ended the series by winning the sixth game and progressed to meet Detroit Red Wings, winners of the Presidents' Trophy.

International play

Despite having been born in Canada, Stastny is a dual citizen of both Canada and the United States. Both he and his brother Yan have chosen to play internationally for the United States.[11] Among the reasons that led him to choose to play for the United States was the possibility to play in an international competition with his brother, who had chosen to play for the United States before Paul.[55] Paul Stastny represented the United States for the first time in the 2004 Viking Cup, where he won a silver medal playing for the junior team.[56] According to Hockey's Future, he was one of the most important American talents in the tournament.[57] Stastny played internationally for the United States national ice hockey team for the first time in the 2007 IIHF World Championship.[56][58] He played seven games, scored four goals and four assists, had two penalty minutes and finished even in plus/minus.[59] The United States lost in the quarterfinals against Finland. Stastny was named the best American player in the 3–0 win against Germany, when he scored two goals and had one assist.[60][61] He was chosen as one of the three best United States players at the tournament, together with Lee Stempniak and Toby Petersen.[62]

Style of play

Paul reminds me a lot of his dad. [...] His play-making ability, his vision on the ice, the ability to come up with loose pucks - the puck just seems to follow him around. But his play without the puck is the part that we enjoy. For a young kid, to have that hockey sense, is unusual.

Joel Quenneville, The Globe and Mail, "The Stastny bloodline is clear to see"[63]

Stastny is a left-handed center and one of the few NHL players who still use a wooden stick.[17][64] He considers himself as a play-maker, a characteristic he says inherited from his father.[17] Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic, who played with Peter Stastny, sees similarities between the two, namely their strong skating and ability to see the game.[17] Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville, who faced Peter during his playing career, has said Paul plays in a similar way and complimented his hockey sense.[63] George Gwozdecky, Stastny's coach at the University of Denver, has complimented his intelligence, ability to pass and see the ice.[25] Although it has been said that Stastny is a slow skater,[9] Gwozdecky too feels he is a strong skater.[25] Terry Frei of ESPN has said that "... his game isn't flashy and eye-popping as much as it is heady, intuitive and efficient".[7] Despite having to deal with comparisons with his father and not being a natural goal-scorer, Paul Stastny is projected to be a first-line center by a Rogers Sportsnet scouting report.[65]

Career statistics

As of the end of the 2006-07 NHL season.[20]

Regular season and playoffs


    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2002–03 River City Lancers USHL 57 10 20 30 39 8 0 1 1 2
2003–04 River City Lancers USHL 56 30 47 77 46 3 1 2 3 0
2004–05 University of Denver WCHA 42 17 28 45 30 - - - - -
2005–06 University of Denver WCHA 39 19 34 53 79 - - - - -
2006–07 Colorado Avalanche NHL 82 28 50 78 44 - - - - -
2007–08 Colorado Avalanche NHL 66 24 47 71 24 9 2 1 3 6
NHL Totals 148 52 96 149 68 9 2 1 3 6
NCAA Totals 81 36 62 98 109 - - - - -
USHL Totals 113 40 67 107 85 11 1 3 4 2

International


Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
2007 United States WC 7 4 4 8 2

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ Unlike their father, Paul and Yan Stastny have dropped the diacritics from their name.
  2. ^ Podnieks, Andrew. "Spotlight - Peter Stastny". Legends of Hockey. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  3. ^ a b c Grossman, Evan (2007-03-02). "Paul Stastny a chip off the old block". NHL. Retrieved 2007-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b Pincus, Arthur (2006). The Official Illustrated NHL History. Calton Books. pp. 147–148.
  5. ^ "Reg Bentley". Legends of Hockey. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
  6. ^ "Yan Stastny profile". NHL. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  7. ^ a b c d Frei, Terry (2007-03-13). "Paul Stastny showing skills only genes can provide". ESPN. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Lopez, Aaron J. (2006-11-15). "Carle, Stastny's paths cross on the ice again". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2008-03-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ a b c d Mindenhall, Chuck (2007-04-10). "Six pedigrees of separation". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ Allen, Kevin (2006-11-30). "Rookie pair fitting in with Avs". USA Today. Retrieved 2009-01-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ a b Buccigross, John (2007-12-27). "Richards' hefty deal can actually bring the people together". ESPN. Retrieved 2008-01-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "USHL Standings 2002/03". Pointstreak.com. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  13. ^ "USHL 2003 Playoff bracket". Pointstreak.com. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  14. ^ "USHL Standings 2003/04". Pointstreak.com. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  15. ^ "USHL 2004 Playoff bracket". Pointstreak.com. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  16. ^ "USHL 2003/04 Scoring leaders". Pointstreak.com. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  17. ^ a b c d e f Frei, Terry (2007-10-11). "Stastny following father's footsteps in more ways than one". ESPN. Retrieved 2007-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ "Denver Pioneers Men's Hockey: Year-By-Year". United States College Hockey Online. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  19. ^ Lapointe, Joe (2005-04-10). "Denver Wins Title Again, With Stastny Scoring 2 Goals". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-01-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ a b "Paul Stastny career stats". NHL. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  21. ^ "2005–2006 NCAA Division I Men Statistical Leaders". United States College Hockey Online. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  22. ^ "2005–2006 WCHA Men Statistical Leaders". United States College Hockey Online. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  23. ^ "Paul Stastny profile". United States College Hockey Online. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  24. ^ "Denver Pioneers: 2005–2006 Men's Hockey Schedule Results". United States College Hockey Online. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  25. ^ a b c Sadowski, Rick (2006-09-12). "Stastny's genes are advantage to rookie". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2007-01-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ Powers, DJ (2004-06-14). "NCAA 2004 draft preview". Hockey's Future. Retrieved 2008-01-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ "2004 Final Ranking - North American Skaters" (PDF). Central Scouting Service. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  28. ^ "2005 Final Ranking - North American Skaters" (PDF). Central Scouting Service. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  29. ^ "Avalanche Signs Paul Stastny". Colorado Avalanche. 2006-07-24. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ Sadowski, Rick (2006-09-29). "Stastny has a leg up". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2007-01-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ The Canadian Press (2006-10-21). "Avs defenceman Liles gives up No. 26 so Stastny can wear father's number". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ Associated Press (2006-10-08). "Avalanche 3, Canucks 2". NHL. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ^ "Paul Stastny 2006–07 Regular Season Game-by-game log". NHL. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  34. ^ Associated Press (2006-10-21). "Canadiens 8, Avalanche 5". NHL. Retrieved 2007-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ a b "Stastny scorches Flames for two goals". TSN. 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-26.
  36. ^ a b c "Stastny Named To NHL All-Rookie Team". Colorado Avalanche. 2007-06-14. Retrieved 2007-06-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ Associated Press (2007-03-11). "Streak longest in NHL since Heatley's 22 in '05". ESPN. Retrieved 2007-01-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  38. ^ a b Kelly, Michael (2007-06-27). "After Banner Rookie Season, Stastny Looking For More In Year 2". Colorado Avalanche. Retrieved 2008-01-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ^ Sadowski, Rick (2006-09-11). "For Avs' Wolski, at least more of a role is a given". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2008-01-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  40. ^ Klein, Jeff Z. and Reif, Karl-Eric (2007-03-18). "Colorado Rookie Has Ice in Bloodlines". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  41. ^ "Colorado 2, Minnesota 3". ESPN. 2007-03-11. Retrieved 2008-01-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ Dater, Adrian (2007-06-14). "Calder just eludes Stastny". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-01-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ Allen, Kevin (2007-10-11). "Stastny carries strong finish into second season". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-01-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  44. ^ Associated Press (2007-10-03). "Avalanche 4, Stars 3". NHL. Retrieved 2007-01-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  45. ^ Associated Press (2007-10-07). "Avalanche 6, Sharks 2". NHL. Retrieved 2008-01-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  46. ^ a b c d "Paul Stastny 2007–2008 Regular Season Game By Game Stats". NHL. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
  47. ^ Associated Press (2007-11-11). "Avalanche 4, Wild 2". NHL. Retrieved 2008-03-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  48. ^ Kennedy, Ryan (2008-01-04). "Time for Wolski and Stastny to man up". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2008-01-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  49. ^ Associated Press (2008-01-11). "Avalanche center Paul Stastny makes first All-Star team". NHL. Retrieved 2008-01-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  50. ^ "Stastny Out Two to Three Weeks". Colorado Avalanche. 2007-01-17. Retrieved 2007-01-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  51. ^ Dater, Adrian (2008-02-14). "Revolving door for Avs . . . again". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-02-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  52. ^ Associated Press (2008-03-20). "Flames 2, Avalanche 1". NHL. Retrieved 2008-04-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  53. ^ NHL.com Staff (2008-04-07). "No. 3 Minnesota Wild vs. No. 6 Colorado Avalanche". NHL. Retrieved 2008-04-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  54. ^ Associated Press (2008-04-17). "Avalanche 3, Wild 2". NHL. Retrieved 2008-04-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  55. ^ "Paul Stastny's Conference Call with NHL Media Members". Colorado Avalanche. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
  56. ^ a b Sadowski, Rick (2007-04-17). "Stastny, Arnason on U.S. team". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2008-01-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  57. ^ Shaner, Jason (2004-01-18). "USA represented well by Waterloo at Viking Cup". Hockey's Future. Retrieved 2008-01-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  58. ^ "USA Roster at IIHF World Championship 2007" (PDF). IIHF. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  59. ^ "IIHF World Championship 2007 Scoring Leaders" (PDF). IIHF. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  60. ^ "IIHF World Championship 2007 - USA - GER - Game Summary" (PDF). IIHF. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  61. ^ "IIHF World Championship 2007 - Best players per game" (PDF). IIHF. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  62. ^ "IIHF World Championship 2007 - Three best players of each team selected by coaches" (PDF). IIHF. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  63. ^ a b Duhatschek, Eric (2006-11-28). "The Stastny bloodline is clear to see". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2008-01-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  64. ^ Perez, A.J. (2008-01-15). "Q&A: Colorado Avalanche center Paul Stastny". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-01-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  65. ^ "Paul Stastny profile". Rogers Sportsnet. Retrieved 2008-03-21.

External links


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