6:02 p.m.: Edmonton has made Stefan’s signing official. It is indeed a three-year deal, although they declined to issue financial terms.
5:18 p.m.: The Oilers are one of six to eight teams pursuing top undrafted free agent forward James Stefan and are “closing in” on an entry-level deal, per PuckPedia.
Stefan, 20, was one of many prospects who had his draft year derailed by the COVID pandemic. With an August 2003 birthday, Stefan was initially eligible for the 2021 draft, in which many CHL players, specifically those in the OHL, had their seasons significantly disrupted or canceled entirely. Stefan was one of them, as instead of an important sophomore season with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, Stefan played most of the season with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL in an unexpected transfer, where he struggled to put himself in draft consideration with 10 goals, 28 points and a -10 rating in 41 games.
Since returning to Portland, Stefan has been a major factor in a top-six role for one of the better teams in major junior hockey. The son of 1999 first-overall pick Patrik Stefan has recorded a point per game or better in three straight seasons but has broken out in earnest this year. He’s top-ten in the league with 48 goals and 99 points, and is second on the U.S. Division-leading Winterhawks behind another top UDFA target, Gabe Klassen. The Laguna Beach, California, native’s +47 rating is also second on the team and fourth overall in the league.
Stefan’s ELC signing age would be 21, meaning his ELC will be a three-year pact beginning next season. As such, he’ll be an RFA in 2027 for whoever signs him.