Veteran forward Derek Stepan signs a one year contract

Veteran NHL forward Derek Stepan has signed a one year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes after receiving a professional tryout contract with the team last month.

The 32 year old Stepan played 58 games with the Hurricanes last season and was relatively productive, putting up nine goals and 19 points. He's no longer the 20 goal man he was in his days with the New York Rangers, but he's still a relatively productive and useful forward and, at just 32 years old, I'm kind of surprised that he had to sign a PTO in the first place.

"Having Derek in Carolina last season, we know what he brings to the table and what he adds to our team," said GM Don Waddell in a prepared statement. "He gives us additional forward depth and provides us with yet another veteran presence in the locker room."

From the Hurricanes' official website:

Stepan, 32, entered training camp on a professional tryout (PTO) contract and tallied four points (3g, 1a) in three games during the preseason, tying for the team lead in goals. The 6'1", 199-pound forward initially signed with Carolina as a free agent on July 31, 2021, and recorded 19 points (9g, 10a) in 58 games with Carolina in 2021-22, finishing fourth on the team in goals per 60 minutes of ice time (0.96). Stepan has registered 504 points (177g, 327a) in 817 career NHL games with NY Rangers, Arizona, Ottawa and Carolina. The Hastings, Minn., native has also represented the United States at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship, 2011 IIHF World Championship, 2014 Olympics and 2016 World Cup of Hockey, captaining the team to a gold medal at the World Juniors. Stepan was drafted by the Rangers in the second round, 51st overall, of the 2008 NHL Draft.

- Carolina Hurricanes

Stepan's re-addition to the lineup gives the Hurricanes arguably the deepest forward group in the entire Eastern Conference. Sure, they don't have the top end talent of a team like the Tampa Bay Lightning or the Toronto Maple Leafs, but from top to bottom they have four solid lines of contributors.