Vegas Golden Knights Report Card: Paul Stastny
Despite battling an injury to begin the season, Paul Stastny had a fantastic first year with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Another day in the dry Las Vegas heat in July means another day closer till the Vegas Golden Knights training camp gets underway. It also means another player report card from the 2018-19 season. This series continues with one of my personal favorite players on the team, Paul Stastny.
The Golden Knights ended up signing Stastny in the offseason shortly after their Stanley Cup Final loss to the Capitals. The lack of center production was a big problem for Vegas in their loss to Washington. George McPhee had to overhaul the second line due to James Neal and David Perron departing Sin City and moving Erik Haula from center to a natural role on the left-wing.
McPhee made a move to go out and grab Stastny through free agency as he signed him to a three -year deal worth 6.5 million dollars per year on the salary cap. Some feel the team may have overpaid for the player and that may be true. However, the three-year term on the contract is the perfect length, which explains why the money was a little on the expensive side.
Bad luck struck early into the 2018-19 regular season for the Quebec City, Quebec native as he was forced to miss two months due to a lower-body injury. Stastny only played three games before being sidelined. His absence really did not help this team as they struggled mightily out of the gate. Although when the 33-year-old returned, the team played better hockey and Stastny rejuvenated the Golden Knights second line.
New Golden Knights’ Stastny and Max Pacioretty made up the second line and gave the fans a much different look than what they were used to seeing the previous season. Those two players raised their game when the first line of Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson and Reilly Smith went into a cold spell. And the addition of Mark Stone at the trade deadline pretty much solidified the Golden Knights second line as one of the best trios in the NHL.
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As soon as Stone joined Vegas, Stastny became a point per game player as he scored, six goals, 11 assists, and 17 points in 17 games. He also finished the regular season on a point per game pace despite missing 30 games. Stastny ended the year with 12 goals, 32 assists, 42 points in 50 games played.
When the postseason rolled around, Stastny was lights out in the first round series versus the San Jose Sharks. Despite losing to San Jose in crushing fashion, Stastny notched two goals, six assists, and eight points. However, all eight points came in the first three games in the series, and Stastny was held scoreless for the last four contests.
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In conclusion, when Paul Stastny was healthy, this Vegas Golden Knights team was scary. All I can really knock Stastny for is his injury (which isn’t fair to say) and his lack of production in the final four games versus San Jose. Stastny remains as one of the anchors on this team, and they will need him if this team wants to make a run for Lords Stanley Cup in 2019-20.