Dater: You moved out recently from the DU apartment you shared with two former teammates. What, are you big-timing them now?
Stastny: Time to cut the cord (laughs). Time for a change. They're still great friends, but I've always tried to live on my own, so if I have family in town I have extra room.
Dater: You doing your own cooking?
Stastny: Oh, yeah.
Dater: What's the signature Paul Stastny dish?
Stastny: Pasta.
Dater: You sure you're not really just going out to some Cherry Creek spot every night?
Stastny: No, I hate going out. Especially for pasta. I'd rather just make my own and watch TV, do my own thing.
Dater: What are you watching these days?
Stastny: What am I not watching these days? "24," "Prison Break," "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost," "30 Rock."
Dater: I don't hear much hockey here.
Stastny: I try not to watch hockey. I get enough of it. I watch it every morning at the rink, so I don't want to watch it at home.
Dater: What was it like with your dad being away a lot when you were young?
Stastny: I was so young that it didn't faze me. I think, when (Yan and I) got older, about 9 or 10, he'd go to Europe for a couple weeks, and it was a little tough at first. But from about 12, 13, 14, we both knew we wanted to play hockey, and he was there all the time. He had his priorities straight - his family always came first. I have two sisters, too, who both played tennis. One is in Switzerland now getting her master's, and the other one just graduated from Notre Dame.
Dater: What is your mom like?
Stastny: She's just like my dad. It wasn't opposites attract with them. She's real competitive, and loves to talk about hockey. She's great. She always put the food on the table for us and took care of us. She's from Slovakia, so most of her dishes were Slovakian.
Dater: What's it been like getting NHL paychecks the last few months? Did you sit and stare at your first one for a while?
Stastny: I'm living paycheck-to-paycheck, I tell people (laughs). Whatever pays the bills is what keeps me happy. You expect so much at first, but then you lose so much in taxes. But you can't complain. Everyone should be doing what they love, and (money) is just a little side bonus for me.
Dater: Give us a couple of your hobbies.
Stastny: I like to read Dan Brown books. Or, some non-fiction books. In the summertime, I love playing tennis. Tennis and soccer. It's good for you, and at the same time it's so fun.
Dater: Did you ever play hockey against your dad, your uncles and brother at the same time? Must have been a pretty good family pickup game if you did.
Stastny: You know what, one time in Europe we were all playing - me, my dad, uncles, their two sons, so, my cousins, my brother and other cousins - it was a good time. In the summertime, me, my dad and brother will play. We'll skate with the Blues alumni sometimes.
Dater: I'm sure your dad still wants to show everyone who the real Hall of Famer in the family is.
Stastny: He hasn't lost it, I'll tell you that. He'll give you the old "I haven't skated in three months" line and he'll still show you up.
The Stastny file
* Rookie, 6 feet, 205 pounds.
* Born: Dec. 27, 1985.
* Colorado's second selection (44th overall) in the 2005 entry draft.
* Son of Hall of Famer Peter Stastny, who played in six NHL All-Star Games as a member of the Nordiques.
* Had 28 goals and 50 assists and appeared in all 82 games for the Colorado Avalanche.
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