Hurricanes sign veteran forward Derek Stepan to one-year contract
The Carolina Hurricanes continued to reshape their roster Saturday, signing forward Derek Stepan to a one-year, $1.35 million contract.
“Derek is an experienced two-way center who can play in all situations,” Canes president and general manager Don Waddell said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to add another veteran to our lineup.”
Stepan, 31, played 20 games for the Ottawa Senators last season, finishing with one goal and five assists. He has 759 regular-season games of NHL experience, with career totals of 168 goals and 317 assists, and has competed in 106 career Stanley Cup games.
The Canes, since the end of the season, have had winger Warren Foegele traded to the Edmonton Oilers, winger Brock McGinn leave in free agency to sign with Pittsburgh and center Morgan Geekie selected by the Seattle Kraken in the NHL expansion draft. Forward Cedric Paquette also left in free agency.
Stepan spent seven seasons with the New York Rangers and three with the Arizona Coyotes before going to Ottawa for the 2020-21 season. He had a career-high 57 points with the Rangers in 2013-14 and scored a career-best 22 goals in 2015-16.
Stepan’s hockey resume also includes representing the United States at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship, winning gold, the 2011 IIHF World Championship, the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
The Canes on Saturday announced two other signings, and added another on Sunday: goalie Alex Lyon, forward Maxim Letunov and forward Stefan Noesen. Each received one-year, two-way contracts.
Lyon, who played six games last season for the Philadelphia Flyers, will receive $750,000 at the NHL level and $200,000 at the American Hockey League (AHL) level, with a $250,000 guarantee.
“Alex is a goaltender with experience at both the AHL and NHL levels,” Waddell said in a statement. “This signing helps solidify our goaltending depth.”
Lyon, 28, had a 1-3-1 record, 3.33 goals-against average and .893 save percentage last season. He had a 6-7-2 record, 3.21 GAA and .893 save percentage in 22 career NHL games with Philadelphia.
Letunov’s one-year deal will pay $750,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the AHL level with a $140,000 guarantee.
“Max is a playmaking center who brings size and speed,” Waddell said in a statement. “This signing helps improve our organizational depth at forward.”
Letunov, 25, had 12 goals and three assists in 32 AHL games with the San Jose Barracuda last season.
Noesen’s contract allows for $750,000 at the NHL level and $250 at the AHL level with a $300,000 guarantee.
“Stefan is a veteran forward who plays a high-energy game,” Waddell said in a statement. “We’re excited to add him to our organization.”
Noesen played in six NHL games last season between San Jose and Toronto, and an additional 16 games in the AHL between those two teams’ farm clubs. He had nine points in those 16 AHL games.
In 205 career NHL games with Anaheim, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, San Jose and Toronto, the 28-year-old Plano, Texas native has 31 goals and 23 assists. He hit career highs of 13 goals and 14 assists while playing 72 games for the Devils in 2017-18. He was originally drafted by the Senators in the first round (21st overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft.
This story was originally published July 31, 2021 at 8:01 PM with the headline "Hurricanes sign veteran forward Derek Stepan to one-year contract."
