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Vegas Golden Knights bet on Paul Stastny, sign him to three-year deal

By Jeremy Lambert

WINNIPEG, MB - MAY 3: Paul Stastny #25 of the Winnipeg Jets keeps an eye on the play during first period action against the Nashville Predators in Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 3, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Preds defeated the Jets 2-1 and tie the series 2-2. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - MAY 3: Paul Stastny #25 of the Winnipeg Jets keeps an eye on the play during first period action against the Nashville Predators in Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 3, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Preds defeated the Jets 2-1 and tie the series 2-2. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Paul Stastny is heading to the Vegas Golden Knights, giving them a huge boost down the middle and setting them up to prove they were no rookie fluke.

The biggest non-John Tavares free agent has a new home. Paul Stastny will join the Vegas Golden Knights on a three-year deal worth $19.5 million. He carries a $6.5 million per season cap hit. TSN’s Bob McKenzie was the first to report.

The 32-year-old center split time between the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets last season, amassing 53 points in 82 games. It was his highest point total since 2013-14 with the Colorado Avalanche. Stastny upped his game in the Jets march to the Western Conference Finals, scoring 15 points in 17 games.

Winnipeg were knocked out by Vegas in five games.

The addition of Stastny gives Vegas more stability down the middle. They are expected to work out a long-term deal with restricted free agent William Karlsson at some point during the offseason. A Stastny-Karlsson one-two punch matches up with any team in the league.

Along with being a secondary scorer, Stastny is excellent in the face-off circle (54.9 win percentage last season), defensively responsible, and can play in all situations.

The Golden Knights lost David Perron to the Blues earlier in the day and are still in talks to bring back James Neal. They’re also working the phone lines with the Ottawa Senators, hoping to land Erik Karlsson. Vegas was presumed to be the frontrunner for the star defenseman at the trade deadline.

Stastny reportedly had interest from the Jets, Avalanche, and Montreal Canadiens. Montreal remains in desperate need of a top center while Winnipeg liked what they saw from Stastny in his short time with the team and he’s familiar with Colorado, who could use a number-two center.

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Many thought Stastny would have to take a pretty big pay cut from his $7 million a season deal following some disappointing seasons with St. Louis. Fortunately for him, Vegas needed a center and had the cap space. Stastny still gets paid and goes to the defending Western Conference champions. A good deal for both parties. Now, back to waiting on Tavares.

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