Final Grade: A
Midseason Grade: B+
Season Stats: 82 GP, 28 G, 50 A, 78 Pt, +4, 185 shots
Minutes: 1488 total (2nd among forwards), EV 12:15, PP 3:38, PK 2:16, ATOI 18:09
Splits:
1st Half: 41 GP, 10 G, 22 A, 32 Pt, E, 95 shots
2nd Half: 41 GP, 18 G, 28 A, 46, +4, 90 shots
Positions: Center (82 games)
Lines: 2nd (44 GP), 3rd (37 GP), 4th (1 GP)
Linemates:
LW: Wolski (28 GP),
RW: Hejduk (65 GP), Rycroft (8), Svatos (6), Laperriere (3)
Career: His 20 game scoring streak was a record for NHL rookies. He also set the consecutive road point streak for rookies in that same stretch (15 games), breaking the record held by his uncle Marian. His 20-game streak was also the 2nd longest in franchise history (Mats Sundin had a 33 game streak) and the third 20 game streak in the NHL since 1993-94 (joining Dany Heatly and Adam Oates). And, his 76 points as a rookie is tops in Avalanche history and 4th best in franchise history (following all Stastnys: Peter at 109, Marian at 89 and Anton at 85).
Report: The Anti-Laaksonen!…Stastny was considered a long shot to even make the team…Finished 3rd on the team in scoring and 2nd in the NHL rookie scoring race…Was consistent all season long…His “worst” month was December, where he scored 8 points in 13 games – a 50 point full season pace…A good playmaker and an excellent partner for Milan Hejduk…Showed excellent defensive responsibility from day one, a great plus for a rookie…Played on the PK all year, and had the 2nd-most PK minutes for forwards (186:08)…Was tied for 2nd in PP scoring and was 3rd in EV scoring, making him the most effective forward in all 3 situations (PK, PP and EV)…Played with veteran-like poise – seems to have the makeup to be a captain someday…Showed a slight nasty streak at times, an attribute that I think might increase over time…His shooting percentage in the first half was 11, 20 in the 2nd, which makes me think his numbers are just slightly above his level of play this year…The biggest knock I have is his poor performance in faceoffs, an area he needs to improve substantially…Also missed a few wide open nets, but I don’t believe that’s anything more than bad luck.
Fast Fact: Stastny wore #62 for his first 7 NHL games. Beginning with the
2007-2007 Salary: $535,000
2007-2008 Status: signed ($685,000)
Outlook: Here’s where I lose some people. I think Stastny had a marvelous season, and will have a long and prosperous career in the NHL. I could easily picture him as a future captain of the team. But I do believe he played a bit over his head offensively this year, and will be hard pressed to duplicate his 78-point season in his sophomore year. 55-60 points is more in line with where I would project him next year. While that’s still a good number of points, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Avalanche pick up another offensive-minded center this summer to guarantee that the team will have scoring punch up the middle.
I agree with you. There’s always a sophomore slump, especially as teams start going after him with thier better defensemen.
Or the Avs could find another high-scoring left winger, pairing him with Hejduk and Stastny to supplement the first line of Sakic-Brunette-Whoever. Stastny is a strong passer and proved that by feeding Hejduk often enough. If he had two strong offensive options on his sides, his numbers could be similar if not better. But in general, barring any major off-season signings, I agree with your assessment.
He could very well have played a game that was over his head. But then again one thing Stastny has done consistantly through college to his first rookie year is play hard. He’s not the kind of player to take a shift off, hang his head when his team is behind, or coast when his team is well ahead. Stastny seems to have that one speed motor and I think that will really help him through the peaks and valleys of his play. His goal totals might be a bit high but I think his assist number may even increase next year. His ability to see the ice is excellent and as he progresses as a player in the NHL I think we will see him get more and more creative.
Yea I agree mainly everything that you said. I dont know if he will go into the “sophomore slump”. He is a very consistant player, even through college he never really let up on his playing ability. I hope he doesnt let up that much, but I think that after that kind of rookie year, some let up is expected but not hoped for obviously.