The Kraken are signing free agent heart Chandler Stephenson to a seven-year contract, PuckPedia experiences. The deal carries a cap hit of round $6.25M, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
This deal strikes Stephenson on from the Vegas Golden Knights, the place he stamped his mark as a real top-six heart within the NHL. Stephenson joined Vegas through commerce in 2019, with the Golden Knights sending a 2021 fifth-round decide again to the Washington Capitals.
Stephenson rapidly took off with Vegas, netting 22 factors in 41 video games following the commerce and including 5 factors in 20 playoff video games that yr whereas serving because the staff’s third-line heart. The recent begin earned Stephenson a soar to the second-line in 2020-21 — a promotion he vindicated by setting a then-career-high 14 targets and 35 factors in 51 video games.
He adopted that yr up with a breakout 21 targets and 64 factors in 2021-22 and rapidly topped it with 65 factors in 2022-23.
Nevertheless it was the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs that appeared to really cement Stephenson’s prowess. He was a focal piece of Vegas’ push to their first Stanley Cup, netting 20 factors, break up evenly, by 22 postseason video games. He held down the staff’s second line, controlling the center lane in each instructions and providing an opportunity for his aggressive wingers to make performs.
Stephenson has responded modestly to lifting the cup, with simply 16 targets and 51 factors this yr, amidst a lower in minutes within the wake of Tomas Hertl’s acquisition. Nonetheless, Stephenson has proven a propensity for making a powerful two-way affect and driving the web arduous.
Now bumped out of his function with Vegas due to Hertl and William Karlsson, Stephenson will take his abilities to a Kraken staff rife with alternative.
Seattle struggled to form its lineup this season, with high-end abilities like Jared McCann and Yanni Gourde pushed to fill an extended checklist of tasks. Utilityman Stephenson will assist carry a few of that load, and will even help McCann’s transfer again to the wing. It was from that spot that McCann managed a career-high 40 targets and 70 factors final season.
He held on to the robust scoring even in additional of a middle function this yr, suggesting loads of offensive upside ought to McCann discover a really perfect function. Stephenson may also be nice firm for teen Matthew Beniers, who’s nonetheless constructing out his dynamic two-way recreation after scoring 20-fewer factors this yr than he did final yr.
Seattle has had a busy begin to free company, additionally signing prime defender Brandon Montour to a seven-year deal. He and Stephenson are actually notable additions, although in addition they deliver the Kraken down to only $10M in remaining cap area.
Seattle might want to use that to barter with its remaining restricted free brokers — Beniers and Eeli Tolvanen. The pair will probably eat up most of Seattle’s remaining finances, although there may very well be sufficient room left for another addition.
