March 25: Steeves’ signing is official, per a team release. The team did not disclose financial terms, but confirms it’s a two-year ELC that begins next season.
March 24: The Panthers are expected to sign college free agent forward Ben Steeves to an entry-level contract, according to Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald. He will likely finish the season on a tryout with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers.
Steeves isn’t new to the Panthers organization, having attended their development camp last offseason. The 21-year-old brother of Maple Leafs forward Alex Steeves spent the last two seasons with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, eclipsing the 20-goal mark each time. The diminutive forward is a pure sniper, having never posted more assists than goals in a single season at any recorded level of play. During his time with the Bulldogs, Steeves led the team in goals by a remarkable margin, serving as one of only two double-digit goal-scorers on the squad each season.
Now set to turn pro, Steeves wraps up his collegiate career with 45 goals, 17 assists, 62 points, and 66 PIMs in 72 games. He was named to the NCHC’s All-Rookie Team last season and was UMD’s nominee for the Hobey Baker Award this year.
At 5-foot-8 and 165 lbs, Steeves has a long road ahead of him to prove he can hang at the professional level before earning an NHL recall. He does help fill out a Panthers forward prospect pool that lacks punch outside of 2021 first-round pick Mackie Samoskevich, but he’ll need to round out his game with Charlotte to earn a qualifying offer when his ELC expires.