DU hockey is well represented in this year’s National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs, with alum on three of the four teams still in contention. The St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning each have at least one former Pioneer on their playoff roster.
In St. Louis resides forward Paul Stastny, a 30-year-old playmaking center. Sporting a left-handed shot, Stastny played two seasons for Denver in 2005 and 2006. He would play eight seasons with the Colorado Avalanche before leaving for St. Louis in free agency in 2014.
Stastny is enjoying a productive playoff run this season, with nine points (three goals and six assists) in 14 games. He is also a defensively responsible forward, as evidenced by his +1 playoff rating and +3 regular season rating.
St. Louis defenseman Chris Butler also attended DU (2007-2008). A utility defender, Butler saw action in five regular season games but has yet to suit up in the postseason.
Over in Pittsburgh, former Pioneer Beau Bennett is hoping to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. The 24-year-old was a first round pick back in 2010 and saw action in 33 games this past regular season. Like Butler, he has yet to play in the playoffs.
Bennett posted 12 points (six goals and six assists) during the regular season. He played at DU from 2011-2012, scoring above a point per game in his final season.
The final former Denver player in the NHL playoffs is Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Matt Carle, one of the most highly decorated Pioneers of all-time. At the age of 31, he is depended upon greatly to help solidify the back-end in Tampa.
He scored nine points (two goals and seven assists) in 64 regular season games, while totaling three assists in nine playoff games so far in 2016. Since fellow teammate and defender Anton Stralman was sidelined with an injury, Carle has played on the Lightning’s top pairing with Victor Hedman.
During his time with Denver (2004-2006), Carle became the only junior defenseman in history to win the Hobey Baker Award, the award for the top collegiate hockey player in the nation. He posted 53 points (11 goals and 42 assists) in only 39 games his junior year.
As one of the most prestigious hockey programs in the country, DU has produced several NHL-level players since its inception, some of which are still battling in the 2016 playoff race.
