LetsGoDU

Stastny's Genes Are Advantage To Rookie

By Rick Sadowski
Rocky Mountain News

CENTENNIAL - Think of hockey playing families and the Sutter brothers of Viking, Alberta, quickly come to mind. Brent, Brian, Darryl, Duane, Rich and Ron Sutter played in the NHL with varying degrees of success.
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Then there are the Stastnys, led by Hall of Famer Peter, who in 15 seasons with Quebec, New Jersey and St. Louis recorded 450 goals and 789 assists; he retired after the 1994-95 season and ranks second behind Joe Sakic on the Nordiques/Avalanche career scoring list with 1,048 points.

Peter's brothers, Anton and Marian, also enjoyed successful NHL careers, combining for 373 goals and 557 assists in the 1980s.

Now it's Paul Stastny's turn to keep up the family tradition.

After starring at the University of Denver for two years, the 20-year-old center signed with the Avalanche in July and is taking part in the team's rookie camp at the South Suburban Family Sports Center.

He's wearing jersey No. 62, reversing the digits worn by his dad.

"I can learn so much from him," said Paul Stastny, whose brother Yan is a 23-year-old center in the Boston Bruins organization. "Every day I can call him and ask him a question here and there. He's been through it, so he knows what I'm going through."

Stastny benefited from his time at DU, where he totaled 36 goals and 62 assists in 81 games and as a freshman helped the Pioneers win the national championship.

But he felt the time was right to take the next step.

"I think two years was more than enough," said the 6-foot, 200-pounder, the Avalanche's second-round pick (44th overall) in the 2005 NHL entry draft. "I had so much fun, but it made it a little easier to leave knowing that I won a national championship and played with so many good players. I just felt it was time for me to move on."

Stastny's decision didn't shock DU coach George Gwozdecky, who pointed out a number of underclassmen from Western Collegiate Hockey Association schools have left in recent years to pursue professional careers.

"We knew Paul had a terrific career up to this point, and we were hoping that we'd be able to get another year out of him, but it wasn't completely surprising," Gwozdecky said. "We're very proud of what Paul was able to accomplish here, and we wish him the best."

While Stastny leans on his dad for advice, he said he never has felt pressured into making decisions, this one included.

"I think we both knew that I was ready to take on the next challenge, to play with quicker and bigger players," he said. "He said I was going to be nervous at first but to just be myself and to have fun out there."

Stastny realizes he will have a tough time cracking an Avalanche roster that includes veteran centers Joe Sakic, Pierre Turgeon, Tyler Arnason, Brett McLean and Mark Rycroft, along with returnees Brad Richardson and Cody McCormick.

"If they like me, they like me," he said. "If not, then I'll go wherever they send me, just so I keep getting better every day."

New NHL rules implemented last season put an emphasis on offense and speed, and Stastny probably won't win many skating competitions.

But Gwozdecky said it would be a huge mistake to underestimate that aspect of his game.

"First, Paul is a very intelligent player. He sees the ice extremely well, and he's a very good passer," Gwozdecky said. "When he first got here, the rap against him was he can't skate. But Paul Stastny is a strong skater; you can't knock him off his skates.

"I think those people who called him a poor skater don't have a clue in evaluating players. For what he was able to do at this level and probably will be able to do at the next level, his skating is absolutely terrific."

In an attempt to improve his mobility, Stastny spent a good chunk of the summer playing tennis and soccer.

"A lot of cross-training to help out with the speed," he said.

A business major at DU, Stastny acknowledged it would be different getting up in the morning for hockey practice instead of class.

"But I plan on taking some online courses and finishing my degree in five or six years, hopefully," he said.

For now, his classroom is strictly on the ice.