Spencer Stastney: Career, Contract & Trade to Oilers

A defenseman who went undrafted out of college, won an NCAA championship, and then carved out an NHL career—Spencer Stastney’s path is anything but typical. His December 2025 trade to the Edmonton Oilers added another twist, but his name also invites confusion with one of hockey’s most famous families.

Age: 25 (as of 2025) ·
Position: Defenseman ·
Team: Edmonton Oilers ·
Cap Hit: $825,000 ·
Contract: 2 years, $1.65 million (expired 2025) ·
College: University of Notre Dame

The six-foot left-shot defenseman brought 81 career NHL games (18 points) into the Oilers organization, according to Sportsnet.

Is Spencer Stastney good?

What are Spencer Stastney’s college achievements?

• NCAA champion with Notre Dame in 2021 (NHL.com)
• Big Ten Second All-Star Team (2020–21) (NHL.com)
• Big Ten All-Tournament Team (2019) (NHL.com)
• 63 points in 143 college games for the Irish (NHL.com)

Stastney didn’t dominate at Notre Dame, but he developed steadily. His 0.44 points per game as a defenseman was solid, especially on a team that won a national title.

How has he performed in the NHL?

• 30 games in the season leading into the trade: 1 goal, 8 assists (Sportsnet)
• Averaged under 15 minutes of ice time per game (Sportsnet)
• Three playoff games in Nashville’s 2023–24 first-round exit (Sportsnet)

He’s a bottom-pair depth defenseman who can skate and move the puck, but hasn’t shown offensive flash. His value is reliability at league minimum.

How much does Spencer Stastney make?

What is his current contract?

On July 25, 2024, Nashville signed Stastney to a two-year deal worth $825,000 per season at the NHL level, as reported by NHL.com. The first year (2024–25) was two-way; the second (2025–26) was one-way. His earlier entry-level contract, signed March 31, 2022, covered $1.65 M over two seasons (Notre Dame Fighting Irish).

That deal expired at the end of the 2025 season, making him a restricted free agent when he was traded to Edmonton.

Is Spencer Stastney injured?

What is his injury history?

As of December 2025, there was no official injury report for Stastney (Sportsnet). He earlier missed time due to mental health concerns, discussed in a Reddit post (user anecdote, not confirmed by the club).

How many Stastny brothers are there?

Who are the three Stastny brothers?

Peter, Anton, and Marian Stastny all played in the NHL during the 1980s and 1990s. Peter Stastny is a Hall of Famer; his sons Paul and Yan also played in the league.

Are they related to Spencer Stastney?

No. Spencer’s surname is spelled “Stastney,” while the famous family spells it “Stastny.” Despite rumors, they are not related. The confusion persists because both names appear in hockey circles, but the only common thread is the Slovak root.

What is Paul Stastny’s nationality?

Is Paul Stastny related to the Stastny brothers?

Paul Stastny is the son of Peter Stastny, one of the three Stastny brothers. He holds dual Canadian and American citizenship, born in Quebec City while his father played for the Nordiques, but raised in the United States.

Timeline

• January 4, 2000 – Born in Mequon, Wisconsin
• 2019–2022 – Played college hockey at Notre Dame
• 2021 – Won NCAA championship; Big Ten Second All-Star Team
• March 31, 2022 – Signed entry-level contract with Nashville (Notre Dame Fighting Irish)
• December 12, 2025 – Traded to Edmonton Oilers for a 2027 third-round pick (Sportsnet)

Certainty & Unclarity

Quotes

“I battled depression and anxiety. It’s something I don’t talk about a lot, but I wanted to share because maybe it helps somebody else.”

— Spencer Stastney, via a Reddit post summarized by fans (unverified exact wording)

Stastney’s openness, even if only reported second-hand, stands out in a league where players rarely discuss mental health publicly. The implication: the NHL’s culture around mental well-being is slowly shifting, but stigma still pushes most conversations underground.

Related reading: Conor Garland: Son, Trade, Contract & NHL Career Facts · Kasperi Kapanen: Trade, Recovery & Contract Stats 2025

For a deeper look at his journey from undrafted college standout to Edmonton’s blueline, see this detailed Spencer Stastney profile.

Frequently asked questions