Paul Stastny’s career with the St. Louis Blues got off to a slow start. An early injury and an apparent lack of chemistry resulted in a start which had fans wondering if the Blues overpaid for the forward. Those who avoided a knee-jerk reaction have been rewarded as Stastny’s play has improved and that includes some impressive play in the faceoff circle.
December was a turning point for Stastny. After returning to full health and finally finding some chemistry with his linemates – Dmitrij Jaskin in particular – the offensive production started rolling in. After a month of November which saw Stastny record just three points in 12 games, he heated up in December with nine points in 13 games and that clip has only improved in January (eight points in six games).
Aside from the boost in goals and assists, Stastny has been a force in the faceoff circle. To date, Stastny is tied for 4th in the NHL with a 57.6% success rate. Stastny hasn’t taken quite as many draws as some of the other skaters in the league, but his 296-218 record has been a subtle factor in the team’s recent success.
Perhaps more importantly, Stastny’s draws have improved along with his offensive production.
October: 33-28 (54.1%)
November: 91-76 (54.5%)
December: 106-74 (58.9%)
January: 66-40 (62.3%)
It’s unrealistic to expect Stastny’s success in the circle to continue at its January rate, but his overall 57.6% has made a big difference. After losing Vladimir Sobotka’s skill over the summer, the Blues needed their centers pick up their game. Steve Ott was retained partially for that reason and his 55.6% success rate has been solid, but the play of Stastny, David Backes (55.9%) and Jori Lehtera (54.2%) have resulted in the Blues sitting third in the NHL in faceoffs.
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