Free Agent Profile: Paul Stastny

When the Colorado Avalanche gained the Stanley Cup this year, they did so besides a participant who many ideas a decade in the past would be a long-term franchise cornerstone. That participant is Paul Stastny, who, now 36 years old, stays a free agent nearly a month after the signing length opened this offseason. After falling to the 2d spherical in the 2005 NHL Draft, Stastny blew the doorways off the Avalanche franchise with three out of 4 70-point seasons to commence his NHL profession in 2007, 2008, and 2010.

While he by no means replicated that offensive success, generally due to a range of injuries, Stastny remained a successful top-six two-way core for years to come. Now a veteran of over 1,000 games, though, Stastny is coming off his 2nd full season with the Winnipeg Jets and stays besides a Stanley Cup. He may additionally be truly of a forgotten title as his first-class seasons are in the back of him, however Stastny’s nevertheless managed seventy four factors in 127 video games over the ultimate two seasons whilst averaging over 17 minutes per game. It’s truthful to say that whilst the cease of the street for Stastny can also be near, it’s no longer right here yet.

Stastny’s 16-year resume with Winnipeg and Colorado in addition to time with the St. Louis Blues and Vegas Golden Knights nevertheless make him a treasured asset to groups searching to add cohesiveness in their locker room as they vie for a championship. He hasn’t been a identify that’s popped up in many rumors, however he have to definitely be on the radar of groups as the offseason slogs on.

Stats

2021-22: seventy one GP, 21G, 24A, forty five pts, +14 rating, 14 PIMs, 141 shots, 17:47 ATOI

Career: 1072 GP, 284G, 516A, 800 pts, +50 rating, 484 PIMs, 2246 shots, 18:53 ATOI

Potential Suitors

Poetically enough, a reunion with the group that drafted him shouldn’t be out of the question. If the Avalanche can’t manipulate to re-sign Nazem Kadri this late in the game, they have greater than ample cap house to accommodate a lifelike one-year deal for Stastny. Providing a little extra offensive upside than J.T. Compher and greater journey than Alex Newhook, Stastny may want to be a sturdy temporary answer to Colorado’s open spot at middle on the 2d line.

Another group that should seem to be to accumulate Stastny to fill the identical position to refuge a youthful participant is the Carolina Hurricanes. While Jesperi Kotkaniemi will get paid a first rate chunk of trade subsequent year, he hasn’t without a doubt finished a whole lot to earn that greenback fee with his performance. With a group like Carolina that’s so shut to winning, Stastny ought to be a suited veteran backup to Sebastian Aho, and, with Carolina’s depth on the wing, he’d have a lot of offensive support. The group would probably want to shed cap to make room for him, however.

Projected Contract

Stastny is coming off a one-year, $3.75MM contract with Winnipeg. With a first rate overall performance closing season, too, there will be a group out there in a position and inclined to pay him extra than the league minimum. While he possibly won’t replicate that greenback value, a contract in the $1.75MM-$2.5MM vary should be there for Stastny in the coming days.