1/23: Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports that Stephens went unclaimed on waivers, and will now report to Laval.
1/22: The Montreal Canadiens have placed forward Mitchell Stephens on waivers and loaned defenseman Justin Barron to the AHL’s Laval Rockets. Stephens started the season in Laval, clearing waivers ahead of the season’s start. He scored 12 points in 16 AHL games before joining Montreal on December 1st. Meanwhile, Barron is slated for his first stint with Laval, after playing in 41 of Montreal’s 46 games this season. The 22-year-old defenseman has managed 12 points in that stretch, a step down from the 15 points he recorded in 39 games with Montreal last season. Barron also recorded 16 points in 25 AHL games last year.
While Stephens has already cleared waivers once this season, his depth has proven valuable throughout his eight-year professional career. Stephens was originally drafted 33rd overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, just a few picks before the Carolina Hurricanes drafted Sebastian Aho. He made his professional debut in the following year, playing five AHL games at the end of the 2015-16 season. He returned to juniors in the following season, but played his first full pro season in 2017-18, scoring 41 points in 70 games with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. That year’s scoring remains Stephens’ career-high, although he matched it in 68 games during Laval’s 2022-23 season. The 26-year-old forward has only played in 95 career NHL games, recording 16 points and 22 penalty minutes. He’s also recorded 219 career AHL games and 137 points.
Xhekaj(jackeye) likly coming back up, he has been a top Dman in the A sense he went down. Altho if he is only going to be used as a 5/6 Dman he is better off playing as a 1/2 in the A playing in the 22-24 min a night range then playing 12-14 up here. I think they need to trade a young L shot Dman not named Xhekaj or Hutson for a good young forward
I am thinking Lias Anderson must be coming up….Need a 4th centre now
Newhook coming back very soon and can slide in to center 2nd or 3rd line. Monahan and Jake Evans also. If Monahan is moved they can bring up Stevens for the remainder of the year. Kirby Dach is next years #2 center and they need to package some surplus Dmen assets /picks for a goal scorer also in the off season.