Devils Should Be Wary of Stephenson in Free Agency

Chandler Stephenson seems like a New Jersey Devils free-agent target, but a down-season should give them pause about pursuing him

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Given the injuries the New Jersey Devils dealt with this past season, finding another center might be a top priority for general manager Tom Fitzgerald. That doesn't necessarily mean acquiring another top-six pivot, but someone who can improve their depth behind Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes would make sense. 

One unrestricted free agent who could check that box is Chandler Stephenson. The Vegas Golden Knights are tight on the cap and likely won't be able to afford him. It wouldn't surprise me if the Devils like him, but they should be wary of pursuing him. 

Stephenson's Down-Year

The Golden Knights acquired Stephenson for a mere mid-round pick from the Washington Capitals in 2019. At the time, he was just a fourth-line center. But wouldn't you know, they turned him into more than that. Much more.

Stephenson played 41 games with the Golden Knights during the 2019-20 season, totaling 22 points. That was a sign of things to come as he slowly turned into a middle-six/top-six center. He had a mini-breakout campaign during the shortened 2020-21 campaign, totaling 35 points in 51 games — a 56-point pace over 82 games. 

Since then, Stephenson has consistently totaled 50-plus points. He's averaged 63 points per 82 games since the start of the 2021-22 season, certainly what you'd expect from a top-six center. And he's been an efficient five-on-five scorer, averaging 2.09 points per 60 minutes. 

The Golden Knights usually controlled play when Stephenson was on the ice, too, but something changed this season. His expected goals share (xG%) cratered to 45.9 percent, and there were quite a few red flags in his results.

Stephenson's microstats fell off a cliff for the most part. His playmaking was still solid, but he struggled in transition, ranking in the zero percentile in zone exits and 34th percentile in zone entries. While he did get shots off high-danger passes, his shooting metrics were generally poor. 

Chandler Stephenson’s 5-on-5 microstats for 2023-24 (via JFresh Hockey, data tracked by Corey Sznajder and his A3Z Project)