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Paul Stastny News & Rumors

Paul Stastny happy to greet new year
January 2
Denver Post
 
"It was a bit of a crazy season a year ago for Paul Stastny. He had perhaps the poorest stretch of hockey statistically in his career, yet he still played in the NHL All-Star Game in Raleigh, N.C. As usual, he created no controversy for himself or the Avalanche, being a consummate pro and a good teammate. Yet his father created a bit of a firestorm with some outspoken comments after the Avs' trade on Feb. 18 of Chris Stewart, Kevin Shattenkirk? and a draft choice to St. Louis. After Colorado's Sunday practice at the Honda Center, Stastny acknowledged his season was something akin to the "California Screamin'?" roller coaster at nearby Disneyland. "We definitely had some ups and downs. Right"
Stastny available for Avs, but Kobasew, Wilson out
December 13
Denver Post
 
"The Avalanche got some good and bad medical news Monday. First-line center Paul Stastny practiced with the team and coach Joe Sacco said he will be available to play tomorrow night against the San Jose Sharks?. But forward Chuck Kobasew is out with a head injury, the result of a hit taken in Saturday's loss at Edmonton, and defenseman Ryan Wilson still has not practiced because of a head injury. Wilson will miss the game as well."
Avs' Paul Stastny out with injury vs. Canucks; first missed game this season
December 6
Denver Post
 
"Avalanche center Paul Stastny practiced this morning but will miss his first game of the season tonight when Colorado plays the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. Stastny, the team's fourth-leading scorer, suffered a torso injury in the third period of Sunday's 4-2 victory over the visiting Detroit Red Wings. He did not practice with the team Monday. "We'll see how he progresses, see how he presents tomorrow, or the next day," Avs coach Joe Sacco said. "He's getting better every day, and that's a good sign, compared to where he was the other night during the game.""
Avalanche's Paul Stastny injured
December 5
Denver Post
 
"Avalanche center Paul Stastny?, who scored the second Colorado goal in Sunday night's 4-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, left the game in the third period with what the team is calling a torso injury. "We'll know more" today, Avs coach Joe Sacco said of his first-line center, who produced two shots in 15:41 before his injury. E.J. returns. The Avs eased defenseman Erik Johnson? back in the lineup after the former No. 1 overall draft pick missed the previous five games with a groin injury. Johnson played 15:06, second-lowest among seven Colorado defensemen. "As the game went on, I thought he got better," Sacco said."
Avalanche's Stastny gets no shots on goal vs. Wild
November 18
Denver Post
 
"Paul Stastny? was needed by his team Thursday night, but the Avalanche's highest- paid player didn't deliver. For the first time in a game all season, Stastny failed to get a shot on goal in Colorado's 1-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center — none, despite three Avs power plays and in a game in which the Avs had the puck on their sticks much of the time."
Avalanche lose Statsny for remainder of season with stress fracture in right leg
April 4
Denver Post
 
"Even when both Matt Duchene and Ryan O'Reilly stuck with the Avalanche as 18-year-olds, it seemed inconceivable that they could be centering Colorado's top two lines by the end of their second seasons in the league. The major reason for that, of course, was that O'Reilly not only pulled off a shocker by immediately jumping to the NHL as a second-round choice, his forte was — and mostly still is — the defensive aspects of the game, seemingly pigeonholing him for the foreseeable future in a third-line role. It's funny the way it has worked out — and funny in a way that won't bring any laughter from the Avalanche brass. Yes, there are sardonic smiles and shrugs in reaction to an injury list"
Hurting Avalanche get Liles, Stastny back for red-hot Canucks
March 15
Denver Post
 
"When the Avalanche resumes play Wednesday night against the NHL-leading Vancouver Canucks, a couple of its important veteran players should be back in the lineup. Defenseman John-Michael Liles and center Paul Stastny are both listed as probable to return for Wednesday's game with the red-hot Canucks at General Motors Place. "We'll see how they do at the morning skate, but it's likely they'll be in," coach Joe Sacco said following today's practice. Liles has missed the last two games with a leg injury, and Stastny missed Saturday's game in Nashville with a back injury."
Back injury keeps Stastny out of game; Hejduk out another week with shoulder injury
March 13
Denver Post
 
"Paul Stastny made the trip to Nashville with the Avalanche but didn't suit up against the Predators on Saturday and is considered day to day after leaving the Friday loss against Anaheim in the third period because of a back injury. Meanwhile, the team said veteran winger Milan Hejduk will be out about a week with a shoulder injury."
Stastny, Duchene display star power in hockey All-Star game
January 31
Denver Post
 
"Avalanche center Paul Stastny had a goal and an assist for the losing Team Staal on Sunday at the NHL All-Star Game, while Colorado teammate Matt Duchene had a goal for the winning Team Lidstrom. Also in Team Lidstrom's 11-10 victory, Duchene took the first penalty shot in All-Star Game history in the third period after Washington's Alex Ovechkin playfully slid his stick at the puck on a Duchene breakaway. On the penalty shot, Du- chene went to his backhand as he cut to his right and past goalie Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers, but Lund- qvist made the save. "He's a huge goalie, so I probably should have just tried to bury it five-hole," Duchene said. "I was trying something"
Stastny to play in All-Star Game
January 27
Denver Post
 
"Avalanche center Paul Stastny on Wednesday cancelled his plans to spend this weekend at Beaver Creek and booked an NHL all-star trip to Raleigh, N.C., where he will join teammate Matt Duchene and compete in Sunday's 58th midseason classic at the RBC Center. Stastny and Carolina Hurricanes rookie Jeff Skinner were picked to replace injured Pittsburgh Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. "I'm excited. It's an honor," Stastny said after Wednesday's morning skate. "This is something you can't pass on. It's an honor to play in an All-Star Game and I've never done it before." This is the second time Stastny has been selected to play, but he couldn't play in 2008 because of an"
Change in plans: Stastny to play in All-Star Game
January 27
Denver Post
 
"Avalanche center Paul Stastny on Wednesday cancelled his plans to spend this weekend at Beaver Creek and booked an NHL all-star trip to Raleigh, N.C., where he will join teammate Matt Duchene and compete in Sunday's 58th midseason classic at the RBC Center. Stastny and Carolina Hurricanes rookie Jeff Skinner were picked to replace injured Pittsburgh Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. "I'm excited. It's an honor," Stastny said after Wednesday's morning skate. "This is something you can't pass on. It's an honor to play in an All-Star Game and I've never done it before." This is the second time Stastny has been selected to play, but he couldn't play in 2008 because of an"
Paul Stastny added to NHL all-star roster
January 26
Denver Post
 
"Upon learning of being added to Sunday's NHL All-Star Game, Avalanche center Paul Stastny had no problem cancelling his plans of spending the weekend in Beaver Creek. The former University of Denver star will join teammate Matt Duchene in Raleigh, N.C., and compete in Sunday's 58th mid-season classic at the RBC Center. "I'm excited. It's an honor," Stastny said after this morning's pregame skate at the Pepsi Center, where the Avs will face the Phoenix Coyotes tonight. "I was supposed to go to the mountains, but there's always something better. This is something you can't pass on. It's an honor to play in an All-Star Game and I've never done it before. I've been hurt in previous years, so"
Stastny says he's 'day-to-day' after back injury
December 17
Denver Post
 
"The back injury that forced Avalanche center Paul Stastny out of Wednesday's game at Chicago is not considered serious. "Day-by-day, I think," Stastny said today during the Avs' annual visit to The Children's Hospital. "Little stiff this morning, but it feels a little better. We'll evaluate it tomorrow. Obviously, no skate today. We'll do some rehab and skate in the morning and see how it goes." Stastny was injured while being checked into the boards by the Blackhawks' Bryan Bickell in the third period of Colorado's 4-3 victory in Chicago."
Stastny shaken by injury to DU player Martin
November 2
Denver Post
 
"Paul Stastny hasn't slept well the past two nights. "It shook me, man," the Avalanche center said of the open-ice check that resulted in three fractures of the C2 vertebra to University of Denver senior Jesse Martin on Saturday in Grand Forks, N.D. Stastny, who played two seasons at DU and skates with Martin and other Pioneers during the summer, was rattled because he knows what happened to Martin can happen to anyone. And Stastny also knows North Dakota's Brad Malone, who delivered the hit on Martin. Malone, a 6-foot-2, 212-pound senior forward, was a fourth-round draft pick of the Avalanche in 2007. While Martin's hockey career is probably over, Malone will likely continue his career"
Stastny makes up for penalty
April 21
Denver Post
 
"Getting even. Avs center Paul Stastny made up for his costly penalty off the opening faceoff with a skilled redirection goal that tied it at 1-1 early in the second period. Confidence. Unlike Game 3, the Avs were territorially even going into the third period. They were outshot 24-20 at that point, but they delivered more hits (17-14) and produced more takeaways (7-4) and blocked shots (15-10). One more for the Yipper. Rookie wing Brandon Yip assisted on the Avs' goal for his third point of the series, second-most on the team behind Stastny's four."
Avs scoring leader Stastny blessed by heritage
April 18
Denver Post
 columnist Terry Frei
"Paul Stastny's phone rings most every non-gameday afternoon, his father calling to converse about family, European politics and mostly about hockey, all in Slovak. On Saturday, the talk undoubtedly was of the Avalanche's situation heading into tonight's Game 3 of the first-round Western Conference playoff series against San Jose at the Pepsi Center. It's a series the Avs thought they had control of, but are tied 1-1 after an amazing back-and-forth Sharks' 6-5 overtime victory late Friday night. His parents' native tongue is one of the three languages Paul speaks, and whether told in French, Slovak or English, the Stastny story is one that seems part John le Carre thriller and part"
Stastny's line struggling
March 29
Denver Post
 
"Avalanche coach Joe Sacco had general praise for his team despite a tough 4-3 loss Sunday to the San Jose Sharks. But there was some criticism reserved for the team's top line, led by its highest-paid player, Paul Stastny. After a strong string of games following the Olympic break, Stastny had poor showings in the Avs' two- game road trip, including a zero-point, minus-3 game against the Sharks. "There's no question Paul has to be one of our better players, night in and night out. We need more from him, and he knows that," Sacco said. Stastny failed to record a point and was a minus-2 in Phoenix on Saturday, after recording at least one point in 11 of his previous 12 games. Stastny's two"
Avalanche's Stastny sees benefits of NHL players competing in Olympics
March 1
Denver Post
 
"While the NHL spends the next couple of years gnawing on the pluses and mostly minuses they see in stopping play for the Olympics, maybe they should poll the players, starting with the Avalanche's Paul Stastny. Sunday afternoon's heartbreaking 3-2 overtime loss to Canada for the gold medal didn't tarnish his overall Olympic experience. "I think it's unbelievable," Stastny said. "At this tournament, it turned out pretty good with Canada and U.S. in the finals, if you're looking at ratings and looking at the sport. I'm pretty sure a lot of people are watching it. It's a good way to grow the sport and show it off to the rest of the world besides Canada." Stastny scored a goal and had two"
Stastny's assistance helps U.S. advance
February 25
Denver Post
 
"As Avalanche star Paul Stastny has discovered the hard way, it's not always easy being the No. 1 center on the top-seeded team in the Olympic tournament, where all eyes in the hockey world are watching you. After surviving an elimination game Wednesday afternoon with a 2-0 victory against Switzerland, one question dogged the Americans, despite the fact they remain undefeated in four games: Does Team USA have the firepower to claim the nation's first gold medal in hockey since 1980? U.S. coach Ron Wilson has heard the criticism. And it makes him cranky. "If you said at the beginning of the tournament that we'd be 4-0 and the No. 1 seed, everybody would say, 'You're on crack or something,' ""
Wolski, Stastny taken to task
January 8
Denver Post
 
"The Avalanche was relaxing in the Raleigh-Durham area Thursday night. The Carolina Hurricanes weren't. In one of those NHL scheduling quirks, the Hurricanes will be playing the second of back-to-back games tonight at the RBC Center after facing the Nashville Predators on the road Thursday then returning home during the night. The Hurricanes, who won the Stanley Cup only four years ago, are a distant last in the Eastern Conference and also will be without their best player, center Eric Staal, tonight because he is on a personal leave endorsed by the team. Staal returned to his hometown of Thunder Bay, Ontario, this week after the death of his sister-in-law, Tamara Stevenson, 26."