2008 Final Grade: A
2007 Grade: A
Links:
Paul Stastny (hockey-reference page)
2008 ITCS (aka highly unofficial) Stastny game log
Season Stats: 66gp 24g 47a 71pt +22
Minutes: 1,391.4 (2nd), EV 14:48, PP 4:12, PK 2:05, ATOI 21:05
1st Half: 41gp 15g 29a 44pt +9
2nd Half: 25gp 9g 18a 27pt +13
Playoffs: 9gp 2g 1a 3pt -1
Best Month: March (14gp 4g 13a 17pt +9)
Positions: C (66)
Lines: 1st (35), 2nd (31)
Linemates: Stastny season log
LW: Smyth (29), Wolski (19), Hlinka (9), Brunette (6), Forsberg (3)
RW: Hejduk (51), Svatos (8), Brunette (7),
Season: Stastny was just 7 points away from reaching the 78-point mark of his rookie season. Had he not missed 16 games (appendectomy / groin), he most certainly would have topped that. He did set a high for +/-, with 22.
Report: Do I need to get too deep here? Despite missing 16 games, Stastny led the team in just about every category. He led the team in even strength scoring (49 points), +/- (+22) and power play scoring (21 points). He was also tops in the faceoff circle (51%) - an area he has improved substantially in. Stastically he was the best forward on the PK and he’s certainly one of the best defenders on the team. He’s not big or fast and doesn’t possess a blistering shot but he simply got the job done like no one else this year. And he does it all with that “aw, shucks” gap-toothed smile. He’ll be the captain someday. His one negative would be a slow start in the playoffs, but that experience should only help him down the road.
Fast Fact: Stastny’s has yet to go more than 5 consecutive games without a point.
2007-2008 Salary (and Cap Number): $685,000 ($850,000)
2008-2009 Status: Stastny is signed through the end of the upcoming season. However, the Avalanche will be giving him a very fat extension this summer. This is not open for debate.
Outlook: As much as we’re focused on Sakic, Forsberg and Foote this summer, this is Stastny’s team now…hopefully, for a long, long time.
I think this is the transition year for that. With Bruno (probably) leaving think it’s time to give Stastny the “A”. That way he can have the “C” whenever Sakic decides to hang ‘em up
I’d totally make out with that gap-toothed smile. Rowr.
Paul is one of the greatest picks the Avs have ever made. how in the world did he slip to the 2nd with his hockey sense? I guess it’s what a different kind of player he is — he’s not a game breaker, no big shot, no slick moves, not the fastest or biggest guy — but he’s ALWAYS in the right spot offensively, his vision is close to Forsbergian, and he’s a fantastic defender. I continue to think that he plays his best with physical, softhanded players that can work the cycle with him, and I’m not sure Smyth and Hejduk will be the answers there next year. I’d love to see Stewart or Jones win a spot next to him and Smyth or Wolski, freeing up the Duke to work with Sakic again.
Another thought: what kind of deal would you give him? there’s obviously 2 schools of thought with players becoming UFAs so much sooner now — shorter term, cheaper contracts vs. long term super contracts. I prefer shorter term contracts — if a player is a flame-out or suffers chronic injuries, the team isn’t screwed, and the player can match his value to the market more closely. If I’m a player, I don’t want to be the best player in the league playing for peanuts in my prime!
anyways, my guesses:
short term: 4 years, 4 million a year. this takes him through his “low-cost years.”
long term: 12 years, 5 million per year. the long term brings the cap number down.
Mike Richards got 12 years at 5.75 ($69 million total). I have a tough time picturing the conservative Avs doing a 12-year deal. I’m guessing something in the 6 or 7 year range at about 6 million a year.
Yep, I could see a 6 to 7 year deal. 12 years is just insane. Stastny is the first player since they’ve come to Colorado that can be considered part of the core that will replace Sakic/Forsberg/Roy/Foote. There are still a lot of pieces to go looking three years or more down the road.
IF the Avs were to give anybody a long term (IE 12 yr) style contract, it would have to be Stastny, though I expect he’ll probably only be signed to a 5-6yr deal. While no one will ever replace Joe Sakic, Stastny is well on his way to at least filling those shoes. He avoided the sophomore slump even with the injury and stepped up when Joe went down (at least until his own injury). Hopefully Joe is back for a couple more seasons and Stas will have the A as he continue to learn from The Captain.