Paul Gaustad

Paul Michael Gaustad (born February 3, 1982 in Fargo, North Dakota and raised in Portland, Oregon) is an American former professional ice hockey centerman who played for the Nashville Predators and Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is nicknamed "Goose."

Paul Gaustad
Born (1982-02-03) February 3, 1982
Fargo, North Dakota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight 227 lb (103 kg; 16 st 3 lb)
Position Center
Shot Left
Played for Buffalo Sabres
Nashville Predators
National team  United States
NHL Draft 220th overall, 2000
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 2002–2016

Playing career

Junior

Gaustad was drafted in the seventh round, 220th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. In the off-season, he lives in Portland, Oregon. He also played for the Portland Winter Hawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Prior to joining Portland in 1999–2000, Gaustad was a Portland Jr. Hawk. Afterward, Gaustad started playing for a Tier II team in Burnaby, British Columbia, of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League (BCJHL). In his three seasons with the Winter Hawks, he registered 135 points (53 goals and 82 assists) before making his professional debut with the Sabres' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans, in 2002–03.

Professional

Upon his arrival in Rochester, Gaustad registered 53 points (14 goals and 39 assists) in 80 games while also seeing his first action with the parent club, the Buffalo Sabres

Gaustad in 2007

In the 2005–06 season, Gaustad secured a starting position with the Sabres, where he played mostly as fourth line center and played the power forward/enforcer role, along with teammates Adam Mair and Andrew Peters. Gaustad, who had worn the number 14 in Rochester, had to double his number to 28 in Buffalo, due to 14 being retired in honor of Sabres legend René Robert.

On February 7, 2007, in a game against the Ottawa Senators, Gaustad's leg was cut and his tendon was sliced in a collision with Dany Heatley, an injury which at the time was thought to have ended his season. It was later revealed that the injury could have even potentially ended his career had it been an inch deeper. However, he did recover ahead of schedule and joined the Sabres in their 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs on May 4, 2007, for Game 5 against the New York Rangers at home in Buffalo.

After a productive campaign during the 2007–08 season, in which he registered a solid 36 points while mainly on the third and fourth lines, Gaustad was re-signed by the Sabres to a four-year, $9.2 million contract extension on the eve of the free agency period, which was set for July 1, 2008.[1]

On the ice, Gaustad is known for his teamwork and gritty play making him a popular favorite among fans. He is often in front of the net, capitalizing on his 6'5" frame to screen opposition goaltenders and deflect goals. Because of his size and ability, he typically plays a unit on the power play.

At the 2012 NHL trade deadline, on February 27, Gaustad and a 2013 fourth-round draft pick were sent to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a 2012 first-round pick.[2]

On September 8, 2016, Gaustad announced his retirement from the NHL after 12 seasons via his Instagram account.[3][4]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1998–99 Portland Jr. Hawks U18 AA 45 47 53 100 81 — — — — —
1999–2000 Burnaby Bulldogs BCHL 19 2 3 5 25 — — — — —
1999–2000 Portland Winter Hawks WHL 56 6 8 14 110 — — — — —
2000–01 Portland Winter Hawks WHL 70 11 30 41 168 16 10 6 16 59
2001–02 Portland Winter Hawks WHL 72 36 44 80 202 6 3 1 4 16
2002–03 Rochester Americans AHL 80 14 39 53 137 3 0 0 0 4
2002–03 Buffalo Sabres NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2003–04 Rochester Americans AHL 78 9 22 31 169 16 3 10 13 30
2004–05 Rochester Americans AHL 76 18 25 43 192 9 6 5 11 16
2005–06 Buffalo Sabres NHL 78 9 15 24 65 18 0 4 4 14
2006–07 Buffalo Sabres NHL 54 9 13 22 74 7 0 1 1 2
2007–08 Buffalo Sabres NHL 82 10 26 36 85 — — — — —
2008–09 Buffalo Sabres NHL 62 12 17 29 108 — — — — —
2009–10 Buffalo Sabres NHL 65 12 10 22 82 6 0 1 1 8
2010–11 Buffalo Sabres NHL 81 12 19 31 101 7 0 2 2 13
2011–12 Buffalo Sabres NHL 56 7 10 17 70 — — — — —
2011–12 Nashville Predators NHL 14 0 4 4 6 10 1 1 2 5
2012–13 Nashville Predators NHL 23 2 3 5 20 — — — — —
2013–14 Nashville Predators NHL 75 10 11 21 61 — — — — —
2014–15 Nashville Predators NHL 73 4 10 14 60 6 0 0 0 22
2015–16 Nashville Predators NHL 63 2 4 6 46 14 1 0 1 0
AHL totals 234 41 86 127 498 28 9 15 24 50
NHL totals 727 89 142 231 778 68 2 9 11 64

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2011 United States WC 8th 6 0 1 1 4
Senior totals 6 0 1 1 4

References
  1. "Sabres re-sign Gaustad to four-year deal". Buffalo Sabres. 2008-06-30. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
  2. "Goose Heading to Nashville; Roy Staying Put?". 27 February 2012: WGR. Retrieved 27 February 2012.CS1 maint: location (link)
  3. "Paul Gaustad Instagram". paulgaustad28. 2016-09-08. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  4. "Predators centre Paul Gaustad announces his retirement". sportsnet.ca. 2016-09-08.
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