Stastny Sets Rookie Scoring Streak

When looking at the rookie class this year it’s hard to look past what Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin has accomplished. With about 10 games remaining on the NHL schedule he is on pace to finish the season with 36 goals and 52 assists for 88 points all in 78 games.

Earlier in the season there was pretty much no doubt that come summer time Malkin would be taking home the Calder trophy for best rookie. But not so fast, Paul Stastny of the Colorado Avalanche has been on a tear of late setting the rookie point’s streaks record at 20 games. In that span he had 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points.

Paul is the son of former Quebec Nordiques star Peter Stastny. Peter was drafted in 1980 by the Nordiques and played with them for 10 seasons. Quebec of course moved to Colorado in 1996, and now Paul is playing for the same franchise as his dad. In 1980 Peter held the rookie points record with a 16 game streak. He then went on to win the Calder trophy as the NHL’s top rookie that year. This points streak record held up until Winnipeg Jets Forward Teemu Selanne entered the league. During the 1992-93 season Selanne was unstoppable with 76 goals and 56 assists for 132 points. Selannes streak was set at 17 games and beating. And it would really take a special player to break his points or goals records by a rookie.

As for where Stastny sits in the rookie points race, he is currently on pace for 29 goals and 51 assists for 80 points on the season. So maybe the rookie race is a little closer than first thought. You may be able to argue for Malkins case again by looking at where his team sits in the standings, firmly in the playoffs. But when earlier written off with only an outside chance at the playoffs Stastnys Avalanche currently sit only 4 points out of 8th place. And with the addition of his record for the rookie points streak Stastny certainly must be given some credit.

So with a strong finish and a playoff seed for the Avalanche Stastny could get the support of many and pull out a Calder trophy upset over Evgeni Malkin and add a second Calder to the Stastny family.

Other notables in the race for the Calder are Jordan Staal of Pittsburgh and Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings. Another close race is shaping up and it again could come down to the wire, but if the Avalanche do not make the playoffs it should go to Malkin.

Also check out Eastern Conference Playoff Race and Western Conference Playoff Race.

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