Spencer Stastney

Spencer Stastney Bio

Spencer Charles Stastney (born January 4, 2000) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who currently plays for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League. Drafted by the Nashville Predators in 2018, he built his reputation as a reliable two-way defenseman over four seasons at the University of Notre Dame and three professional campaigns before joining the Oilers in a December 2025 trade. A 6-foot, 183-centimeter defenseman who shoots left, Stastney is known for his physical two-way play and steady defensive presence on the blue line.

Stastney was born in Mequon, Wisconsin, and spent his early years in the Milwaukee suburb before moving to Woodridge, Illinois as a teenager to attend Bridgedale Academy. While in Illinois he played youth hockey for the Chicago Mission of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League, where his performance at the highest level of youth competition in the United States drew attention from college and professional scouts. That development path set the foundation for his future career in hockey.

Path to Professional Hockey

Stastney was selected in the fifth round, 131st overall, by the Nashville Predators in the 2018 NHL entry draft while he was still playing for Chicago Mission. That selection launched his four-year college career at the University of Notre Dame, where he developed into one of the top defensive prospects in the Big Ten Conference. Over his Notre Dame tenure he played in 143 games and finished with 16 goals and 47 assists, steadily climbing the scouting rankings each season. His consistent two-way play and defensive reliability earned him significant recognition before he turned professional.

Spencer Stastney Career

Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2018–2022)

Stastney began his college career at Notre Dame during the 2018–19 season, his freshman year, and recorded one goal and three assists in 39 games. He led the Chicago Blackhawks onto the ice for the 2019 NHL Winter Classic, an experience that placed him alongside professional players before he had played a single professional game himself. He scored his first collegiate goal during the championship game of the 2019 Big Ten men’s ice hockey tournament and was subsequently named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team.

His sophomore campaign in 2019–20 produced three goals and 17 assists in 36 games, and his junior season in 2020–21 yielded five goals and seven assists in 29 games. His five goals as a junior tied him with teammates Nick Leivermann and Nick Blankenburg of Michigan for the most by a Big Ten Conference defenseman that season, and he was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team following the year. During his senior season in 2021–22, Stastney recorded a career-high seven goals and 20 assists in 39 games, ranked second on the team in scoring with 27 points, and ranked second in the conference with 69 blocked shots. Following the season he was named the team’s Monogram Club MVP, the most prestigious award given by Notre Dame athletics.

Nashville Predators Era (2022–2025)

Stastney signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators on March 31, 2022, shortly after completing his senior season at Notre Dame. He spent the majority of his rookie 2022–23 season with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League, where he recorded five goals and eight assists in 56 games and helped the Admirals reach the Western Conference finals of the Calder Cup playoffs. He scored the game-winning goal with 27 seconds remaining in game five of the division semifinals, a dramatic moment that helped Milwaukee advance. He made his NHL debut for the Predators on April 1, 2023, and appeared in eight games during that season, recording two points.

Stastney was recalled by the Predators on November 14, 2023, after beginning the 2023–24 season with Milwaukee. In 20 regular season games for Nashville he recorded two goals and two assists and appeared in three playoff games during the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. On July 25, 2024, he signed a two-year, 1.6 million dollar contract extension with the Predators. On December 12, 2025, the Predators traded Stastney to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick, ending his tenure with the franchise.

Playing Style and Strengths

Stastney is a left-shooting defenseman who brings a physical, two-way approach to the blue line. His senior season at Notre Dame demonstrated elite shot-blocking ability, as he ranked second in the Big Ten Conference with 69 blocked shots during the 2021–22 campaign. He reads plays effectively in the defensive zone and contributes offensively from the back end, a combination that made him a valued depth piece during his time with the Nashville Predators.

Notable Events and Milestones

Among the most notable moments of Stastney’s career is his game-winning goal with 27 seconds remaining in game five of the 2023 Calder Cup division semifinals while playing for the Milwaukee Admirals, a performance that helped carry Milwaukee to the Western Conference finals. He also led the Chicago Blackhawks onto the ice for the 2019 NHL Winter Classic, an honor typically reserved for professional players, during his freshman year at Notre Dame. His selection as the Monogram Club MVP following his senior season at Notre Dame capped one of the finest individual campaigns in program history for a defenseman.

Spencer Stastney Career Wins

Spencer Stastney has recorded wins across the National Hockey League, the American Hockey League, and the NCAA Big Ten Conference. His professional wins have come primarily as a member of the Nashville Predators organization and the Milwaukee Admirals, with his college career at Notre Dame representing the foundation of his statistical production. His performance across multiple leagues reflects a consistent developmental arc from college standout to NHL regular.

National Hockey League

Stastney has recorded two goals and two assists in 28 NHL regular season games for the Nashville Predators. He made his NHL debut on April 1, 2023, and appeared in both regular season and playoff action during the 2023–24 campaign. While his NHL statistical totals remain modest at this stage, his Stanley Cup playoff experience includes three games during the 2024 postseason with Nashville.

American Hockey League and Collegiate Highlights

In the American Hockey League, Stastney recorded three assists in 16 Calder Cup playoff games with the Milwaukee Admirals during the 2023 postseason and helped the Admirals reach the Western Conference finals. At the collegiate level he finished his Notre Dame career with 16 goals and 47 assists in 143 games, including a career-high 27 points during his senior season in 2021–22. He was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team in 2019, the All-Big Ten Second Team in 2021, and the Notre Dame Monogram Club MVP in 2022.

Spencer Stastney Family

Family Background

Spencer Charles Stastney was born in Mequon, Wisconsin, to parents who supported his early development in hockey. The move to Woodridge, Illinois during his teenage years was driven by the opportunity to attend Bridgedale Academy and compete with the Chicago Mission in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League, one of the premier youth development pipelines in the United States. That relocation demonstrated a family commitment to his hockey career during his most formative years as a player.

Personal Life

There is limited publicly available information regarding Spencer Stastney’s personal life beyond his hockey career. No spouse or children have been publicly confirmed. His focus has remained primarily on his development and career in professional ice hockey.

2025 Season Performance

The Edmonton Oilers acquired Spencer Stastney on December 12, 2025, trading a 2027 third-round draft pick to the Nashville Predators in exchange for the defenseman. The trade came midway through the 2025–26 NHL season, and Stastney was expected to integrate into the Oilers blue line corps following the transaction. Joining a team with Stanley Cup aspirations provided Stastney with an opportunity to contribute to a deep playoff push during the remainder of the campaign.

At 25 years old, Stastney brought NHL experience and two-way defensive capability to the Oilers organization at the time of the trade. His prior experience with the Nashville Predators, including NHL regular season and playoff games, provided a foundation for a quick transition to his new team. The Oilers blue line gained a physically reliable defenseman in Stastney, and his performance during the remainder of the 2025–26 regular season would help determine his role heading into the postseason.