Stastny

Not that there will be any coverage for it here in the States, but it looks as if Paul Stastny will be the first USHL prospect taken in the NHL draft this summer. Who's next after that?

From what I've heard I'd guess either Chris Zarb or Victor Oreskovich.

I really don't think that Stastny will be the first USHLer taken in this years draft. I think Chris Zarb will be. Look at their final year standings and predictions for the draft on NHL.com

Stasny didn't opt in to the draft so the question is academic now.

Stasny didn't opt in to the draft so the question is academic now.

Stastny is still a Draft Prospect for this year... according to USHL.com
http://www.ushl.com/pr/20042005/20040616nhldraftguide2004.pdf

Where did you hear otherwise?

He, however, was only ranked 49 overall on the NHL CSS Final Ranking. Which means that there are a few other former/current USHLers ranked higher... including, Wes ONeill (23), Chris Zarb (37), Tyler Haskins (46), and Blair Yaworski (47).

A number of different sources have reported that Stastny didn't opt in. Here's one. (http://insidecollegehockey.com/7Archives/News/css_0237.htm)

Hmmm... that's odd. Well...

Would his birthdate affect this at all? 12/27/82? He's already 21.

I thought he was born in 85? :dunno:

He was born 12/27/85 not 82.

Sorry... I was just going based off of his bio on the Lancers Webpage, which has him as an 82 birthday... but I thought that was strange because the oldest players in the league last year were only supposed to be 83 birthdays.
Check it out...
http://www.lancers.com/PlayerProfile.asp?PersonID=308
Bad error on their part.
I should have checked pointstreak.com... they've got it correct as an 85.
http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/playerpage.html?playerid=48633&seasonid=258