Spencer Stastney: Bio, Salary, Injury & Family

Few hockey names carry the weight of Stastny, but Spencer Stastney is carving his own path — born in Mequon, Wisconsin, drafted by the Nashville Predators in 2018, and now a defenseman for the Edmonton Oilers. This profile traces his journey from Notre Dame to the NHL, including contract details and injury setbacks.

Age: 25 (born January 4, 2000) ·
Position: Defenseman ·
Team: Edmonton Oilers ·
Shoots: Left ·
NHL Draft: 2018, 5th round (131st overall) by Nashville Predators ·
Current Contract: 1 year, $1,525,000 (cap hit $1,525,000)

Eight facts that define the player:

Who is Spencer Stastney?

Early life and family

Spencer Charles Stastney was born on January 4, 2000, in Mequon, Wisconsin, according to Wikipedia. He later lived in Woodridge, Illinois, and attended Bridgedale Academy (Notre Dame Fighting Irish). His parents are Hoyt and Kathy Stastney; he has a brother Pierce and a sister Amelia (Notre Dame Fighting Irish). Despite the surname, he is not directly related to the famous Stastny hockey brothers—the spelling differs and no genealogical link has been publicly documented (Wikipedia).

College career at Notre Dame

Stastney played college hockey at the University of Notre Dame, where he majored in Film, Television and Theatre and Finance (Notre Dame Fighting Irish). He served as an alternate captain in 2021-22 and finished his senior season with NCAA career highs of 7 goals, 20 assists and 27 points, tying for the Notre Dame blue-line lead and sixth-most among Big Ten defensemen that season (NHL.com). He was a finalist for the 2022 Senior CLASS Award (NHL.com).

Professional career: Nashville and Edmonton

The Nashville Predators drafted Stastney in the fifth round, 131st overall, in the 2018 NHL Draft (NHL.com). He signed a two-year entry-level contract on March 31, 2022, and made his professional debut with the Milwaukee Admirals on April 16, 2022 (The Hockey Writers). After 143 NCAA games and 63 points (The Hockey Writers), he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in December 2025.

The implication: His NCAA stats signal offensive upside, but durability and consistency at the NHL level are still open questions.

Where did Spencer Stastney grow up?

Hometown: Mequon, Wisconsin

Stastney was born in Mequon, a suburb north of Milwaukee, and his family later moved to Woodridge, Illinois (Notre Dame Fighting Irish). The area has produced several NHL players, though Stastney’s path through the Chicago Mission youth program put him in a competitive pipeline.

High school: Catholic Memorial and Bridgedale Academy

He attended Catholic Memorial High School in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and also trained at Bridgedale Academy in Woodridge, a program known for developing hockey talent (Wikipedia). He spent two seasons in USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program from 2016 to 2018 (NHL.com).

Youth hockey programs

Stastney played for the Chicago Mission youth organization, a program that has produced numerous Division I and NHL players. He represented the United States at the 2020 World Junior Championship (silver) and the 2018 U-18 World Championship (gold) (NHL.com).

The pattern: His route through elite programs underscores the blueprint for late-round defensemen, but the NHL transition remains the final test.

How much does Spencer Stastney make?

Current contract details

Stastney signed a one-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers worth $1,525,000 for the 2025-26 season, carrying a cap hit of $1,525,000 (PuckPedia). This is his first contract after his entry-level deal expired.

Career earnings

His previous entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators paid him in the range of $925,000 annually at the NHL level, with signing bonuses. Over his first three professional seasons, he earned approximately $1.8 million in salary and bonuses (PuckPedia).

Salary cap impact

At $1.525 million, Stastney’s cap hit is near the league minimum for a defenseman with his experience. For the Oilers, his contract provides low-cost depth on the blue line, allowing the team to allocate more cap space to star players (The Hockey Writers).

The catch: The Oilers are betting on health and performance; if Stastney delivers, the cap hit is a bargain, but an injury prolongs the risk.

Is Spencer Stastney injured?

Recent injury timeline

According to The Hockey Writers, Stastney missed time during the 2024-25 season due to an undisclosed reason described as “personal reasons.” The exact nature of his absence was not publicly detailed. He was placed on the Oilers’ injured reserve list in early 2025 (PuckPedia).

Injury history

Stastney previously missed games with a lower-body injury during his time with the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL, but no major surgeries have been reported (The Hockey Writers).

Return to play projections

As of early 2026, Stastney’s status is day-to-day. The Oilers have not issued a timeline for his return to game action (PuckPedia).

What this means: His health status is the biggest variable in his short-term NHL trajectory; a full recovery could solidify his role, while prolonged absence raises doubts.

How many Stastny brothers are there?

Peter, Anton, and Marian Stastny

The three famous Stastny brothers—Peter, Anton, and Marian—defected from Czechoslovakia in the 1980s and became stars in the NHL. Peter Stastny was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998 (Wikipedia).

Yan Stastny and Paul Stastny

Yan Stastny (Peter’s son) and Paul Stastny (Anton’s son) are cousins who both played in the NHL. Paul Stastny had a long career with the Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, and other teams, while Yan Stastny played 28 NHL games (Wikipedia).

Spencer’s connection to the Stastny family

Spencer Stastney is not a direct descendant of the Stastny brothers. The surname is spelled differently (Stastney vs. Stastny), and no genealogical link has been found in public records (Wikipedia). The similarity often leads to confusion among fans.

The timeline shows a steady upward trajectory interrupted by the 2024-25 injury, making the next six months critical for his career.

The pattern: The draft round confusion and missing games data highlight the incomplete picture of Stastney’s NHL career so far.

“Stastney finished his senior season with NCAA career highs of 7 goals, 20 assists and 27 points.”

NHL.com (Nashville Predators official site)

“Spencer Stastney is a defenseman from Mequon, Wisconsin.”

Notre Dame Fighting Irish (University of Notre Dame athletics)

The implication is clear: Stastney’s college production was strong, but translating that to the NHL—especially after an injury-interrupted season—will require a healthy return and consistent minutes. For the Edmonton Oilers, the calculation is straightforward: they need him to be a reliable depth defenseman at a low cap hit, or they must look for alternatives. For Stastney, the next six months will determine whether he cements an NHL career or becomes a footnote in the Stastny name’s legacy.

Frequently asked questions