Steve Staios
A journeyman defenseman whose work ethic and hockey IQ forged a long NHL career, now applied in an executive suite.
Born 1973 (age 53)·Canadian ice hockey player and executive·Birthday: July 28·Generation X
Biography
Steve Staios's path to the NHL was not that of a can't-miss prospect, but of a relentless overachiever. Drafted in the second round in 1991, he spent years honing his game in the AHL before becoming a dependable NHL blueliner. His style was defined not by flash, but by grit, shot-blocking, and a fierce competitive streak that made him a leader in the locker room. He became a fixture for the Edmonton Oilers during their 2006 Stanley Cup Final run, embodying the heart of that team. After over 1,000 NHL games with six franchises, he transitioned seamlessly to management, first with the Toronto Maple Leafs before taking the helm of the Ottawa Senators. His career arc reflects a deep understanding of the game, built from the ice up.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Steve was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Steve Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Steve's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
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
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 1,001 regular-season games in the NHL as a durable defenseman for six different teams.
- Served as an alternate captain for the Edmonton Oilers during their memorable run to the 2006 Stanley Cup Final.
- Appointed President of Hockey Operations and General Manager of the Ottawa Senators in 2023.
- Represented Canada internationally, winning a gold medal at the 1994 World Junior Championships.
Did You Know?
He was originally drafted as a forward by the St. Louis Blues before being converted to defense.
Staios founded the 'Pro Action Hockey' academy in his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, after his playing career.
He served as the President of the NHL Players' Association's Executive Board during his time as a player.
His son, Nathan Staios, is also a professional hockey player.
“My job was simple: keep the puck out of our net, by any means.”
