Alumni Update: Steel, Stephsenson, Bedard and Berge
Regina, Sask. – It was an exciting week for Pats alumni, as Connor Bedard took home some hardware, Parker Berge received a camp invite, and Sam Steel and Chandler Stephenson inked new contracts.
Sam Steel | Dallas Stars
Steel, 26, signed a one-year contract, worth $1.2 million. Steel helped the Dallas Stars to the best record in the Western Conference last seasin, finishing with 113 points and a 52-21-9-2 record. The Ardrossan, Alta. product completed his sixth NHL season and first with the Stars in 2023-24, recording 24 points (9G-15A) in 77 games. In 2022-23, the 6-foot, 185 lb. left-shot forward tallied 28 points (10G-18A) in 65 games with the Minnesota Wild.
“Sam was an integral member of our team during the regular season and playoffs,” said Stars General Manager Jim Nill in a team release on July 1. “He’s a player we can trust in any situation. We’re looking forward to bringing him back for another season in Dallas.”
The former Pats captain played for Regina for parts of five seasons from 2013-2018, recording 338 points (123G-215A) in 258 career WHL games, helping the Pats reach to the 2018 Memorial Cup Final, and later being named Memorial Cup MVP leading all players in scoring with 13 points (2G-11A) in five contests. The former Ducks 2016 first-round pick ranks seventh in Pats history in assists.
✍️ We have signed Sam Steel to a 1-year, $1.2 Million contract.
Welcome back to #TexasHockey, Steeler!
MORE: https://t.co/a1EFkfxC4x pic.twitter.com/3nfkwn6v2B
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) July 1, 2024
Chandler Stephenson | Seattle Kraken
Stephenson, 30, signed a seven-year, $43.75 million dollar contract with an annual average value (AAV) of $6.25 million on July 1. The Saskatoon, Sask. product tallied 51 points (16G-35A) in 75 games this past season with Vegas, compiling 50+ points for a third straight season after recording 65 points (16G-49A) in 81 games in 2022-23. Stephenson lifted the cup for a second time in his NHL career in 2022-23 after recording 20 points (10G-10A) in 22 playoff games, helping the Golden Knights become 2023 Stanley Cup Champions.
“We’re excited to welcome Chandler to the Kraken organization,” said Kraken GM Ron Francis in a team release. “He brings a winning pedigree and offensive consistency to our team. We are looking forward to him being a part of our lineup this season.”
The 6-foot, 209 lb. left-shot forward played his entire four-year Western Hockey League career with the Regina Pats from 2010-2014. In his final season with the Pats (2013-14), Stephenson tallied 89 points (30G-59A) in 69 games, and was later named a WHL East Division Second Team All-Star. He also played in the 2011-12 CHL Top Prospects Game while a member of the Pats, and was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the third round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
STEVIE TO SEATTLE 🫡 pic.twitter.com/S3eJuXNDHY
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) July 1, 2024
Connor Bedard | Chicago Blackhawks
Bedard, 18, was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as the 2023-24 NHL Rookie of the Year. Despite missing 14 games due to a fractured jaw in January, the North Vancouver, B.C., product finished with 61 points (22G–39A) in 68 games. His 22 goals and 68 points led all NHL rookies and his Chicago Blackhawks teammates. Last summer, the Blackhawks selected Bedard with the first-overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft, becoming the third Pats player all-time to go first-overall.
During his time with the Pats, Bedard also captured the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy and the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s Rookie of the Year (2021) and Player of the Year (2023), respectively. The Calder Trophy is the second NHL award in Bedard’s name, as he was the recipient E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence, following the 2022-23 season. Bedard is the first WHL alumnus to win the NHL’s Rookie of the Year award since Seattle Thunderbirds alumnus Mathew Barzal in 2018.
And the most outstanding rookie is… 🥁 #NHLAwards
Connor Bedard is the 2024 Calder Memorial Trophy winner! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/QLrgV468uO
— NHL (@NHL) June 27, 2024
Parker Berge | LA Kings
Berge, 21, was invited to LA’s rookie development camp on Sunday. The Edmonton Alta. product finished his WHL career with 100 points (18G-82A) in 213 games after compiling 63 points (13G-50A) in 66 games in 2023-24 split between the Pats and the Everett Silvertips. His breakout 20-year-old season had him ranked fourth amongst all WHL defencemen in assists and seventh in points.
Dev Camp is here 🗣️
We have announced the full roster for Development Camp taking place this week at @ToyotaSportsCtr!
Read More 📲 https://t.co/PMpWkdFvdn#GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/pgr4884C62
— LA Kings (@LAKings) June 30, 2024
