NHL trades rarely happen in isolation, but December 12, 2025, was a day of three-team dominoes—and Spencer Stastney found himself at the center of one. The 25‑year‑old defenseman moved from the Nashville Predators to the Edmonton Oilers, swapping Music City for the northern lights.

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Born: 2000 (age 25) ·
Nationality: American ·
Position: Defenseman ·
Current Team: Edmonton Oilers ·
Contract: 2 yrs, $1.65M (expired) ·
Career Highlights: Traded Dec 12, 2025

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Traded to Edmonton for a third‑round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft (Sportsnet)
  • Last contract: 2 years, $1,650,000 with $825,000 cap hit (The Stanley Cap)
  • Recorded 1 goal and 8 assists in 30 games this season (Sportsnet)
  • Listed as 6 ft, left‑shot defenseman (Sportsnet)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact role in Edmonton’s lineup
  • Future contract or trade after restricted free agency
  • Injury history not publicly documented
  • Weight and detailed scouting reports
3Timeline signal
  • December 12, 2025 – Traded to Oilers (NHL.com)
  • Past 2025‑26 season – Contract expires, becomes RFA (Puckpedia)
  • 2023‑2024 – AHL All‑Star selection (NHL.com)
4What’s next
  • Restricted free agent after 2025‑26 contract expiry (Puckpedia)
  • Will compete for a depth role in Edmonton’s defense corps (Puckpedia)
  • Possibility of another trade if Oilers restructure (Puckpedia)

Eight key identifiers frame Spencer Stastney’s profile, with a clear pattern: consistent physical traits and an undrafted path.

Attribute Value
Full Name Spencer Stastney
Date of Birth 2000 (age 25 as of trade)
Birthplace United States
Height 6 ft (183 cm) – per Sportsnet
Weight Not publicly verified
Shoots Left
Drafted Undrafted
Position Defenseman

What happened to Spencer Stastney?

December 2025 trade to Edmonton

On December 12, 2025, the Edmonton Oilers acquired defenseman Spencer Stastney from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a third‑round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. The trade was part of a busier day for Oilers general manager Stan Bowman, who also added goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Samuel Poulin from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a separate deal.

  • Stastney was 25 years old at the time of the move (Sportsnet).
  • The Hockey News characterized the acquisition as adding defensive depth.

The implication: Stastney becomes the third young defenseman on Edmonton’s depth chart, likely competing for bottom‑pair minutes or serving as injury insurance.

Impact on Nashville Predators roster

The Predators parted with a young blueliner who had shown flashes in the AHL and NHL. Nashville received a future draft asset, giving them more flexibility in their prospect pipeline.

Who is Spencer Stastney?

Birth and early life

Spencer Stastney was born in the United States in 2000. His age places him among the younger UFAs on the market entering free agency.

College career at Notre Dame

Stastney played NCAA hockey at Notre Dame, where he appeared in 29 games during his senior season, scoring five goals and seven assists. He earned Big Ten Second All‑Star Team honors in 2021 and an Honorable Mention selection later. (Notre Dame stats sourced from Sportsnet’s biography references.)

Professional debut

Undrafted, Stastney signed with the Nashville Predators organization and worked his way up to the NHL. Across 81 career NHL games he has collected 18 points (Sportsnet).

The trade-off: He arrived in Edmonton with professional experience but without the security of a long‑term deal.

How much does Spencer Stastney make?

Previous contract with Nashville

Stastney’s most recent contract was a two‑year, $1,650,000 deal carrying an annual cap hit of $825,000, according to contract databases The Stanley Cap and Puckpedia. The contract began with the 2024‑25 season and expired at the end of the 2025‑26 campaign.

Restricted free agent status

Because the contract is now expired, Stastney is a restricted free agent, meaning the Oilers hold his rights and can match any offer sheet or negotiate a new deal. (RFA status per Puckpedia.)

The implication: Stastney’s next contract will be negotiated in an environment where Edmonton has cap constraints, likely leading to a short‑term, low‑cost deal.

What is Spencer Stastney’s playing style and statistics?

Defensive strengths

Listed at 6 ft and a left shot, Stastney’s game relies on positioning and simple puck movement rather than physical play. He is not a scoring threat from the blue line, but he moves the puck efficiently.

Notable college and AHL stats

  • NCAA (B1G) Honorable Mention All‑Star Team
  • AHL All‑Star in the 2023‑2024 season
  • Big Ten Second All‑Star Team (2021)
  • NHL totals: 81 games, 18 points (all via Sportsnet)

What this means: Stastney profiles as a third‑pairing depth defenseman who can step into the lineup in case of injuries, but he hasn’t shown top‑four upside at the NHL level.

How did Spencer Stastney rise to the NHL?

High school and junior career

Stastney honed his skills in the US youth system before joining the University of Notre Dame.
(Junior data not publicly detailed.)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

His NCAA tenure included 29 games in his senior year, where he posted 12 points. Scouts appreciated his reliability in the defensive zone.

AHL and NHL call-up

After college, he joined the Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville’s AHL affiliate), where he became an All‑Star. His first NHL call-up came during the 2022‑23 season, and he gradually earned more ice time before the trade.

For the Predators organization, Stastney represented a homegrown success story from the undrafted pipeline. In Edmonton, he starts over.

Timeline

  • 2000 – Born in the United States
  • 2019‑2023 – Plays NCAA hockey at Notre Dame
  • 2021 – Named to Big Ten Second All‑Star Team
  • 2023‑2024 – AHL All‑Star selection
  • December 12, 2025 – Traded to Edmonton Oilers for a third‑round pick (NHL.com)

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

  • American nationality
  • Defenseman for Edmonton Oilers (since Dec 12, 2025)
  • Previous contract: 2 yrs, $1.65M
  • AHL All‑Star (2023‑2024)
  • Big Ten Second All‑Star Team (2021)
  • Traded for a 2027 third‑round pick

What’s unclear

  • Future contract details
  • Exact role in Edmonton’s lineup
  • Injury history not publicly documented
  • Detailed scouting reports from NHL watchers

Quotes from the trade coverage

“The Edmonton Oilers acquired defenseman Spencer Stastney from the Nashville Predators for a 2027 third‑round pick.”

— Sportsnet, December 12, 2025

“The Oilers viewed Stastney as added depth.”

— The Hockey News

For the Edmonton Oilers, Spencer Stastney is a low‑cost, low‑risk depth addition who can eat minutes in the AHL or serve as a seventh defenseman. For Stastney, the trade represented a fresh start after four years in the Nashville system. The next decision belongs to general manager Stan Bowman: extend the RFA offer and keep the depth, or let him walk into unrestricted free agency.

Related reading: Oliver Ekman-Larsson: Stanley Cup Win, Buyout & Career Stats

Additional sources

youtube.com, facebook.com

Beyond Spencer Stastney’s trade, the story of Brad Marchands trade from Boston highlights another major NHL shakeup.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Spencer Stastney injured?

No public reports of an injury; he was healthy when traded.

What is Spencer Stastney’s draft year?

He went undrafted, so he has no draft year.

Did Spencer Stastney play for the US national team?

No appearances for the US senior national team are on record.

What is Spencer Stastney’s NHL 25 rating?

EA Sports’ NHL 25 has not published his rating; it would likely be in the mid‑70s.

How long did Spencer Stastney play with the Nashville Predators?

He was in the organization from 2022 until the December 2025 trade.

What number does Spencer Stastney wear?

With the Predators he wore #48; his Oilers number has not been announced.

Where can I buy a Spencer Stastney jersey?

As of now, no official Oilers jersey with his nameplate is available.