The Seattle Kraken made significant moves during the free agent frenzy on Monday, July 1st, announcing two major signings in quick succession. First, they signed Brandon Montour, followed by the acquisition of Chandler Stephenson, a 30-year-old center who most recently played for the Vegas Golden Knights and was instrumental in their two consecutive playoff runs.
In the 2023-24 season with the Golden Knights, Stephenson played 75 games, amassing a total of 51 points (16 goals and 35 assists). He was crucial in Vegas’ journey to the Stanley Cup Finals during the 2022-23 season, scoring ten goals and providing ten assists over 22 games. Stephenson also contributed significantly to the Washington Capitals’ Stanley Cup victory in 2018. Upon signing Stephenson, Kraken General Manager Ron Francis remarked, “We’re excited to welcome Chandler to the Kraken organization. He brings a winning pedigree and offensive consistency to our team, and we are looking forward to him being a part of our lineup this season.”
Seattle offered Stephenson a seven-year deal worth $6.25 million per year. Like Montour, Stephenson provides the offensive depth the Kraken desperately need after a challenging season, where they averaged just 2.6 goals per game, ranking 29th out of 32 teams. Since losing Alex Wennberg at the trade deadline in March, the Kraken have been in need of a strong center, and the addition of Stephenson is expected to fill that gap effectively.
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