In an interview during the 1987-88 season, Peter Stastny was dumbfounded when the broadcaster suggested he would certainly be voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. "I'm flattered" said Stastny. "I had never thought about it before". Yet, many other have given it considerable thought. And for good reason.
After coming over from Czechoslovakia, Peter won the Calder Trophy in 1980-81, setting rookie records with 109 points and 70 assists in a season. From that point on, Peter and kid brother Anton virtually carried the Quebec Nordiques through the 1987-88 campaign.
Quebec never won a Stanley Cup with Stastny, but it was surely no fault of Peter. In 64 playoff games with Quebec, he totaled 81 points. Stastny was traded to New Jersey in 1989-90 and retired while with St. Louis in 1994-95.
If Stastny could be compared in style to any other NHL superstar, it would be Islanders great Bryan Trottier. Each was creative with the puck and able to score goals as well. Peter proved to be both consistent and productive. He scored 450 goals and added 789 assists for a total of 1239 points in the regular season.
In the Stanley Cup playoffs, he scored 33 goals and added 72 assists for a total of 105 points.
Peter was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998.
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