The Carolina Hurricanes announced today they’ve signed Derek Stepan to a one-year contract. It’ll pay him $1.35MM and give Stepan at least one more try at a championship in the NHL.
Stepan, a veteran of 11 seasons and 759 NHL games, will now head to his fourth team in the NHL. After previous stints with the New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes, and Ottawa Senators, the veteran center attempts to win his first Stanley Cup Championship at age 31 this season. He’s struggled with injuries and declining play in recent seasons, scoring just six points in 20 games in his only season with Ottawa last year. It also marked the lowest ice-time average of his career at 15:04 per night.
Even with a refreshed roster, Stepan likely won’t see any more usage than that with Carolina, who looks to take the next step towards becoming a contender next season. It’ll be a harder sell without defenseman Dougie Hamilton in the fold, but they’re a still a deep team that should be competitive all year long. Stepan likely slots in immediately as the team’s fourth-line center, serving behind Sebastian Aho, Vincent Trocheck, and Jordan Staal. If he can’t rebound offensively this season, or if he faces additional injury issues, it could be his last in the NHL.
Yay. Eichel now please.
As someone else here said, it looks like Waddell is trying to make up for quality with quantity.
Hamilton wasn’t worth that contract, that’ll end up hurting NJ bigtime down the road.
Stepan may not be worth this contract either, but it will be a LOT smaller mistake
While on one hand it is too big of a contract for Hamilton, it’s also true that losing him leaves a big hole in the Canes lineup.
Derek Stepan does not play the same position as Dougie Hamilton or Jake Bean. Carolina’s defence depth has long been lauded. They will be fine.
How many goals did the rest of that lauded defense score in comparison to Hamilton? That’s where they’ll miss him the most.
Carolina is starting to look like Rangers south.
Rants, DeAngelo, Stepan. All we need now is to acquire Lias Andersson.
Don’t forget Smith & Skjei
and Fast
Luckily, Hextall gave away McCann and Tanev to protect our $2.2 million fourth line center instead of signing Stepan for way less.
The Canes have upgraded several spots on their roster so it mostly comes down to how replaceable Hamilton is or is not.
They also lost changed their goalies.
Stepan makes your roster worse than whoever you did/would’ve lost. The game has passed him by.
Steve Lorentz. Derek Stephan is better than Steve Lorentz. Upgrade.
Ya he calls tanev an elite 4th liner, but can’t seem to appreciate what Teddy Bluegar brings to the team
Honestly dude is a joke and should stick to baseball.. its pretty clear he doesn’t know about hockey
I like the Andersen/Raanta tandem better than last year’s trio.
Stepan had a bad family situation last year, only 31, wouldn’t write him off yet.
And I’m a Teddy Blueger fan (for what he is, a replaceable fourth line player), but what does he bring? Average speed, average hands, average shot, no physicality, below average on faceoffs, decent hockey sense, decent on the PK.
Two or three dozen cheaper UFA’s could fill his role with no discernible dropoff compared to the challenge of replacing McCann or Tanev. Hextall soiled the bed. Most everyone sees it. You are intent on not seeing it. So be it.
not even close. Bluegar is only 26 and is a pretty well rounded center already.
Definitely has the potential to be a main-stay 3rd line center in this league, as he showed scoring touch as well in the minors. This year he will carry his largest role yet and we should see his full skillset on display..
You’d really rather have tanev age 30 and Stepan who is a meme at age 31 ?
Than bluegar age 26 and mcginn age 27 ?
For energy/intensity bottom-6 & pk guys ?
By pretty well rounded, you mean completely average. What is he great at?
I’d take Tanev, McCann and Stepan over Blueger, McGinn and Heinan any day of the week.
Who wouldn’t?
PS- I love the “stick to baseball” line. You base this on what, the screen name that I picked before PHR had screen names that is baseball themed? So you decide knowledge levels based on screen names and a player’s value based on age and/or depth charts. Got it. More power to you.
Potentially the dumbest trade in recent Sens history. If the guy the Coyotes drafted turns into anything, I cry for the next decade.