Rumor: Derek Stepan close to re-signing in Carolina

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Stepan has been excellent for Carolina in a limited role, so this comes as no surprise. According to Chip Alexander, it should be announced on Monday at the latest. He should be a great mentor for Jack Drury, and with Trocheck making mad dough in New York, he's now the only right-handed center on the team:

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[Avsboy]

Carolina is a good team this coming season

 

[Rubi]

I see he's only 32. I thought he was older.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I see he's only 32. I thought he was older.

He's just a victim of premature balding lol

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

He's just a victim of premature balding lol

And premature: "Damn, I'm slow".

 

[RangersFan1994]

I see he's only 32. I thought he was older.

Been in the league since he was 20, 12 seasons. never spent time in the AHL. always been a fan of his. Good to see him getting another contract. Rangers fans miss him.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

I'm baffled he didn't play more last year. Stepan might be the best 4th liner I've seen on the team. He doesn't have the skill and speed to crack the top 9 anymore. He is reliable defensively. The biggest thing is how smart he is. He just knows where to be to score and where to be in the defensive zone.

 

[NyQuil]

He was terrible in Ottawa but we had him in our top six.

*shudder*

 

[HockeyVirus]

Feels like one of those "Very good in camp and by game 3 of the season that is no where to be found and you realize why he hasn't been an NHler" type situations.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Feels like one of those "Very good in camp and by game 3 of the season that is no where to be found and you realize why he hasn't been an NHler" type situations.

not really, he was easily our best 4th liner last year.

 

[HockeyVirus]

not really, he was easily our best 4th liner last year.

Yikes

 

[orby]

I see he's only 32. I thought he was older.

I get him mixed up with Derick Brassard, who's 3 years older.

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

Yikes

Not at all. He was good for the canes last year. Even when he wasn’t playing full time he was always good when he got back into the lineup.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Yikes

we can tell you haven't watched a single second of his play in the last year. Lol

 

[NYR94]

Good for him. He was a very good Ranger.

 

[TGWL]

Great team player. Funny locker room guy. 100% has a post NHL career on a broadcast or organization if he wanted. Smart player but the game speed is a big struggle for him these days. Came up very big for us at key times. (NYR)

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

fascinating.

 

[Baby Punisher]

He's just a victim of premature balding lol

He has been bald longer than he had hair.

Great team player. Funny locker room guy. 100% has a post NHL career on a broadcast or organization if he wanted. Smart player but the game speed is a big struggle for him these days. Came up very big for us at key times. (NYR)

He was never fast or, a good skater.

 

[TGWL]

He has been bald longer than he had hair.


He was never fast or, a good skater.

Nobody said he was. But the speed of today's game is faster and he's also got slower himself.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

It's funny how context matters. I'm 1000% sure that Derek Stepan as a 2C is an unmitigated disaster. Derek Stepan as a 4C and PK specialist is really solid. He's an interesting player because the speed is gone but he is still going to be effective with his skill and smarts probably for a few more years. If you know what you're watching for he's a really noticeably good player, even on the 4th line.

Way more effective than many of the "bless your heart" 4th liners who are all hustle and make lots of mistakes.

 

[Vitto79]

Stepan over Martinook ?

 

[MadeUpName]

Stepan over Martinook ?

Stepan is better, a Center and will come in at less than half the cost. Martinook likely won't be claimed.

Carolina will roll Jack Drury, Ondrej Kase, Martinook and Stepan on the 4th line this year. One of the best 4th lines in the league IMO. When Pacioretty comes back then Stastny will get bumped down as well.

 

[NotOpie]

Stepan over Martinook ?

Martinook is more physical and more emotional, but Stepan is equally good in the room and has better offensive instincts. Plus Martinook is pretty severely overpaid for a 4th liner.

 

[sheriff bart]

Stepan over Martinook ?

In my mind, every time. I know that I don't know what the team knows from my vantage point on my couch or in the arena, but he certainly seems to be an improvement over Marty. I love what Marty brings, but his play has waned the last couple of years.