Fansided

NHL Free Agency: Grading the Golden Knights’ signings

By Jeremy Lambert

WINNIPEG, MB - MAY 20: Ryan Reaves #75 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates with teammates after scoring a second period goal against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell MTS Place on May 20, 2018 in Winnipeg, Canada. (Photo by Jason Halstead/Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - MAY 20: Ryan Reaves #75 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates with teammates after scoring a second period goal against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell MTS Place on May 20, 2018 in Winnipeg, Canada. (Photo by Jason Halstead/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
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) /

Second Line Punch

Signed Paul Stastny to three-year contract, $6.5 million AAV

It’s no secret in the NHL that the stronger you are down the middle, the better chance you have at winning. William Karlsson and Erik Haula proved to be a deadly duo throughout the season, but Haula ran out of steam in the playoffs. Nine points in 20 playoff games simply isn’t good enough for your second line center.

Enter Paul Stastny.

As a member of the Winnipeg Jets, he scored 15 points in 17 playoff games. In 72 career playoff games, he has 50 points. This is a guy who typically raises his game as the stakes get higher. On top of providing stable secondary scoring, Stastny is excellent on face-offs and in his own end.

It doesn’t matter if you consider him the second- or third-line center, Stastny is just what Vegas needed after losing four straight to Washington. Once again, money was no issue for a team that still has $18 million in cap space. The term is good as Stastny is 32 and may start to slow down. It’s also curious that his two best seasons in recent memory were contract years.

Next: 25 most insane things people have ever done with the Stanley Cup

Still, Stastny was the second best forward on the market after John Tavares. Vegas is an attractive market, no doubt. But no one figured they could land a player of Stastny’s caliber after their first season. He’s a guy whose career is winding down and definitely wants real opportunities to lift the Cup. After one season, the Knights were able to give him that opportunity.

Grade: A

Home/Vegas Golden Knights