Is Paul Stastny The Next Brett Hull?

Colorado Avalanche rookie standout Paul Stastny is having a remarkable season. He is currently second among all NHL rookies in points scored with 72 (trailing Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin by 13), and is tied for the lead among first-year players in game-winning goals with six.

But while the rest of Stastny's rookie classmates have to wait years before the can test the waters of free agency, Paul Stastny is a free agent of sorts right now.

You see, Stastny was born to a Slovak father (NHL Hall of Famer Peter Stastny) in Quebec City, Quebec and is an American citizen. What that all means is that the younger Stastny can play for Slovakia, Canada or the United States in hockey's World Championships in Moscow later this month. It is expected that he will play for the U.S. -- as he has done before -- but when he makes his decision this time around, it will likely be the last time he gets to make the choice, due to international rules.

In many ways Stastny's situation recalls that of another Hall of Famer's son. Back in 1986, after being snubbed by the Canadians for a spot on a national team consisting of mostly NHL players, Brett Hull decided to take his talents south of the border and suit up for the Yanks for the rest of his international playing days. A World Cup Championship, an Olympic silver and 741 NHL goals later, Hull seems pretty comfortable with his decision. So too will Stastny.