Patience has been a hallmark of Brett Stapley’s, and that virtue paid off this summer for the former Denver center.

Stapley signed a one-year American Hockey League contract with Laval, the top affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens are the same team that drafted Stapley in the seventh round of the 2018 Entry Draft but didn’t sign him by the Aug. 15 deadline, making the all-situations Pioneer a free agent.

Stapley watched as six other teammates from DU’s national title team signed pro contracts – started by Bobby Brink and Carter Savoie immediately after the title triumph over Minnesota State, and continued this summer by teammates Cam Wright, Ryan Barrow, Cole Guttman and Antti Tuomisto. Tuomisto exited after two years, same as Savoie, while Brink signed an NHL deal after his junior season. The other three players, like Stapley, were seniors who played key roles in DU’s ninth NCAA championship.

Stapley endured surgeries on both shoulders while in college, the latter of which cost him most of the truncated 2020-21 season. He entered last season healthy and refreshed – it showed in his countenance when interviewing him, and it showed in his play.

Stapley put up 43 points and 18 goals in 41 games. And he scored some biggies, including in both games at the Frozen Four in April. For further context on how good his season was consider that he had 56 points combined – 14 of which were goals – in his first three NCAA seasons.

A slick puck handler and passer, Stapley rounded out his game as his DU career wore on, taking on penalty killing assignments and drawing increased face-off duties. He won nearly 53 percent of his draws last season. What stood out to me this past season was his willingness and aptitude to shoot the puck more, and that paid big dividends for DU, and now for him.

©First Line Editorial 2022