Whatever Happened to ex-Maple Leafs Matt Stajan?

Every now and then, I find myself looking at my hockey cards and wondering what happened to a player I remember watching in Toronto. Matt Stajan was that player today. [For any collectors, the card is a beautiful Matt Stajan 2003-04 Pacific Private Stock Reserve Class Act Card #12.]

How did Stajan do in Toronto as a player?

The Maple Leafs drafted Stajan in the second round of the 2002 NHL Draft, and he spent parts of seven seasons in Toronto. He was never the biggest star on the team, but he became a pretty dependable middle-six forward who could move up and down the lineup and give you some offence. Except for his NHL debut in 2002-03 (his only game of the season, and he scored a goal), in his six seasons with the Maple Leafs he always scored in double-digit goals.

Then, in January 2010, Stajan was sent to Calgary as part of the blockbuster trade that brought Dion Phaneuf to Toronto. Stajan went on to spend almost nine seasons with the Flames. He eventually played more than 1,000 NHL games, finishing his career with 146 goals, 267 assists and 413 points. He also played one season in Germany before officially retiring in 2019.

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So, what happened to him after his retirement?

Well, he never really left hockey. After retiring, Stajan stayed in Calgary, where he and his family had put down roots. He spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the WHL's Calgary Hitmen from 2021 to 2023. Then the Flames found another use for him. In 2024, Calgary brought Stajan into the organization as a skills consultant.

I actually think that's a pretty interesting role for a former player like Stajan. He's not sitting behind the bench trying to run a hockey club. He's working with players on the little things that can get lost when coaches are dealing with systems, line combinations and the day-to-day business of winning games. He works with players on faceoffs, individual skills, habits and the little details of the game.

He works with both the Flames and their AHL team, the Calgary Wranglers, and has also been involved with prospects at development camp.

Stajan is teaching younger players how to play the game better.

In other words, Stajan has gone from being the guy trying to figure out how to survive in the NHL to helping younger players figure out how to get there. There's something kind of fitting about that.

Stajan was never the player who dominated the headlines. He was a useful player who found a way to stick around for a very long time. He played 1,003 NHL games, which is no small accomplishment.

Now he's doing much the same thing in another part of the hockey business. He's still around the rink. He's still teaching the game. And he's still helping the Flames.

Stajan is still enjoying the game he loves.

The bottom line is that Matt Stajan retired from playing the game, but never left it. He stayed in Calgary and found another way to make it his life.

For a player who spent his career doing a lot of things right, that seems like a pretty good second act.

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