Insider Thinks Veteran Paul Stastny Is Set To Retire

37-year-old Paul Stastny, who is a veteran of 17 seasons, could be retiring before the start of this season. Frank Seravalli, although not completely sure, said on the DFO Rundown that, "I thought I saw Stastny say somewhere that he's retiring."

Stastny is without a contract right now after his one-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes finished. He has been consistent as ever throughout his entire career until it was evident with the drop-off last season that his career was coming to a close. His average time on ice per game over his career prior to last season was 18:53 per game. It was even 17:45 per game over the past five seasons. Regardless of the Hurricanes' depth, Stastny's ATOI dropped to 11:52 and he was overtaken on the second line by Jesperi Kotkaniemi fairly early.

Prior to playing one season for the Hurricanes, Stastny played parts of three seasons for the Winnipeg Jets, two seasons for the Vegas Golden Knights, four for the St. Louis Blues, and started his career playing for the Colorado Avalanche for eight seasons, the team where he was drafted by in the second round in 2005.

Stastny has been stellar in the faceoff circle his entire career and his three best seasons offensively came in the first four seasons of his career, putting up 71, 78, and 79 points. He is a seven-time 20-goal scorer and played over a point-per-game once in his career. If Stastny is retiring, he will do so without a Stanley Cup, but it is an impressive career nonetheless.