Spotlight is on Stastny

Hockey Betting Lines

10/09/2007 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - When people talk about the future of hockey it doesn't take long for Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin's names to come up in the conversation.

However, if Paul Stastny of the Colorado Avalanche is able to maintain his amazing start to the season, his name could soon be added to that list.

Since Crosby and Ovechkin came into the league in 2005-06, their scoring prowess has made them two of the game's most bankable names. Many hockey experts have lobbied to get young defenseman Dion Phaneuf of the Calgary Flames mentioned in the same category, but the bruising blueliner has still yet to become a household name.

Stastny, on the other hand, has a name that will be very familiar to even lapsed hockey fans, those folks who haven't paid much attention to the sport in recent years. You see, Stastny is the son of Hall-of-Famer Peter Stastny and the nephew of former NHLers Anton and Marian Stastny.

That pedigree didn't help Stastny garner a great deal of hype before his NHL career began. In fact, unlike Crosby and Ovechkin, Stastny wasn't the overall No. 1 pick in the draft, but was selected by the Avalanche in the second round (44th overall) of the 2005 draft.

Stastny, 21, turned in a superb rookie season a year ago, as he notched 78 points (28 goals, 50 assists) while playing in all 82 games for Colorado. Only Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins scored more points among rookies in the NHL last year. In the end, it was Malkin who walked away with the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie, and Stastny had to settle for second in the voting. It would have been special for Stastny to win the award since his father was the Calder recipient for the 1980-81 campaign.

However, in the earliest stages of the 2007-08 NHL season, Stastny has few peers in terms of putting points on the scoresheet. Following Colorado's first three games of the season, the youngster had already piled up eight points (4g, 4a), and had a pair of career-best performances.

In Colorado's first game of the season, Stastny recorded his first-ever hat trick, as he posted three goals in his club's win over Dallas. After the Avs were shut out in Nashville in Game 2, Stastny bounced back with a career-best five-point performance in a victory over the San Jose Sharks on October 7.

For his early-season efforts, Stastny was listed No. 1 on the NHL's Three Stars of the Week.

Stastny was born in Quebec City, Quebec on December 27, 1985, when his father was a member of the Quebec Nordiques, the franchise that eventually became the Avalanche. In fact, Stastny is still the second-leading scorer in Quebec/Colorado history with 1,048 points in 10 seasons with the Nordiques.

Despite spending his early years in Quebec, Stastny grew up mainly in the United States and graduated from Millard North High School in Omaha, Nebraska before turning in two exceptional seasons at the University of Denver. Stastny won an NCAA title with the Pioneers in 2005, and displayed his ability to come through in the clutch when he helped Denver's cause with two goals and an assist in the championship game against North Dakota.

Stastny has big shoes to fill not only in his family, but also if he intends to become the leader of the Avalanche. Joe Sakic, who played with Peter Stastny with the Nordiques, has been the leader of this club since being named captain of the Quebec club for the 1992-93 season. Sakic has played his entire 19-year career with the same franchise, but the 38-year-old can't be counted on to hold the Avs captaincy forever.

The younger Stastny has the lineage to be a captain in the NHL, after all, his father wore the "C" for the Nordiques from 1985-90 and also captained the Slovak national team in various tournaments. Paul Stastny also inherited his father's ability to play on both sides of the ice, and that should help him gain his teammates' respect.

It's hard to predict what kind of NHL career Paul Stastny will ultimately have considering he has yet to play even 100 games at this level. Still, Stastny's knack for scoring can hardly be a coincidence when one takes a glimpse at his family tree.

Crosby and Ovechkin's names have been rightfully linked with the future of hockey since they first stepped on NHL ice, but those players will have to make some room at the top soon if Stastny continues his rise to prominence.

Wwwwon Hockey Betting News

<< John Henry - Thoroughbred
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - I remember watching John Henry run in the 1982 Measowlands Cup Handicap in the early days of simulcasting. The evening race was only simulcast within New Jersey, so I made the drive to Atlantic City Ra

<< This Week in Auto Racing October 11 - October 13
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's the fifth race of the 10-race "Chase for the Nextel Cup" and Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are threatening to make the championship their own private contest. NASCAR

<< MISL, FSC announced two-year deal
Westport, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fox Soccer Channel and the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) announced a two-year broadcasting agreement to televise league matches beginning this November through the 2008-09 season. The partnership represe

<< Not a Welcome Flashback for Ravens
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It felt like 2000 all over again. Trent Dilfer was in the house. The Baltimore Ravens couldn't score. Brian Billick's team played great defense. And they won. Only thing was, after the Ravens' so-ugly-you-couldn't-look 9-7

<< Isles sign Berard
Uniondale, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Islanders announced Tuesday that they have signed veteran forward Brian Berard to a one-year deal after the 30-year old earned a spot following an invite to training camp. Berard, who ca

Jags continue stellar run defense >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Jacksonville Jaguars must have been playing some old hits from Martha and the Vandellas in the locker room at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium this past Sunday. If so, the hit song "Nowhere to Run" would have been a per

Sorenson penalized for Talladega rules violation >>
Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Reed Sorenson and the No.41 Target Chip Ganassi Dodge team has been penalized for failing post-race inspection after Sunday's race at the Talladega Superspeedway. The car was found in violation of

Rookie running back leads Colts to 5-0 mark >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In case you didn't catch the name of the Indianapolis Colts running back who wears No. 36 on Sunday, it's Kenton Keith. Keith is a first-year player out of New Mexico State who was thrust into the starting lineup as an inj

Bucs Supporters Shouldn't Panic >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - At this very moment, they're obsessing about the running back situation in Tampa Bay. In the wake of a serious ankle injury suffered by Michael Pittman in Sunday's 33-14 loss to Indianapolis, fans are scanning the free age

Schilling to pitch Game 2 of ALCS for BoSox >>
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona announced his pitching rotation for the American League Championship Series Tuesday, and as expected, Josh Beckett will be the Game 1 starter. In a switch from the Amer

Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament odds  
As of February 9, MySportsbook.com has released its coveted 2007 Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament betting odds. “March Madness betting ” only a month away, the top ranked Florida Gators are favorite at 7-2 to win it all. The defending champs have not disappointed at all this season and currently have a 22-2 record and are undefeated (9-0) in SEC play. The Gators’ thrive off of their extremely balanced, experienced and versatile attack. All five starters started in last seasons National Championship game. What is most impressive with this group is their balance; the five starters all average between 10.7 and 13.6 PPG. The Gators have been on an absolute roll having won 15 straight by an average of 16.4 PPG.

Right behind the Gators are the 5th ranked UNC Tar Heels at 9-2. The Heels (21-3, 7-2) are absolutely loaded with top notch talent and are as deep as any team in the country. A concern for the Tar Heels might be inexperience. Of their top four scorers/ minute earners, three are freshmen and the other is a sophomore. The rest of the regular season, the Tar Heels play only one team that is currently ranked (Duke). Their remaining opponents do combine for an impressive 107-58 record though.

Other teams that the MySportsbook.com members seem to believe will win it all include the west coasts’ top team #2 UCLA (6-1), #3 OSU behind man-child Greg Oden (8-1), and #4 Wisconsin (10-1) behind their defense which has given up 70+ points only three times all season.

Below is a list of some of the favorites to win the 2007 Men’s NCAA Basketball Championship lines. For the full list of teams and March Madness odds be sure to log onto MySportsbook.com. If you want to use your credit card to bet on college hoops or any other event, MySportsbook.com has the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry.

Arizona 20-1

Butler 20-1

Duke 30-1

Florida 7-2

Georgetown 30-1

Indiana 35-1

Kansas 15-1

Marquette 25-1

Maryland 40-1

Memphis 50-1

Nevada 50-1

UNC 9-2

OSU 8-1

Oregon 30-1

Pittsburgh 15-1

Texas 30-1

Texas A&M 18-1

UCLA 6-1

Wisconsin 10-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook betting needs.