Paul Stastny
A cerebral playmaker with an uncanny knack for scoring clutch goals, he anchored NHL lines for nearly two decades with quiet consistency.
Born 1985 (age 41)·Canadian-American ice hockey player·Birthday: December 27·Millennials
Biography
Born into hockey royalty in Quebec City, Paul Stastny carried the weight of a famous surname but carved a distinct path of his own. Choosing to represent the United States internationally, a nod to his upbringing, he brought a patient, intelligent game to the NHL after a standout career at the University of Denver. His rookie season with the Colorado Avalanche was a splash, but his true value was in the years of subtle, two-way excellence that followed. Never the flashiest star, Stastny was the reliable center coaches trusted in critical face-offs and big moments, a thread of high hockey IQ connecting teams from St. Louis to Vegas. His career, spanning over 1,100 games, is a testament to the enduring power of vision and positioning over pure physical force.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Paul was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Paul Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Paul's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Finished second in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie in 2007.
- Recorded 20 points in 20 playoff games during the St. Louis Blues' run to the Western Conference Final in 2016.
- Represented Team USA at two Winter Olympics, winning a silver medal in 2010.
- Scored over 800 points in his NHL career, maintaining nearly a point-per-game pace for many seasons.
Did You Know?
His father, Peter Šťastný, is a Hockey Hall of Famer who defected from Czechoslovakia.
He holds dual citizenship and speaks fluent French, English, and Slovak.
He and his father are one of only a few father-son duos to both score 70+ points in an NHL season.
“I was never trying to be my dad; I just wanted to be a reliable two-way center.”
