Hurricanes sign Derek Stepan to one-year contract

He isn’t going anywhere, Canes fans.

The Carolina Hurricanes have officially signed forward Derek Stepan to a one-year contract worth $750,000.

The move comes after a successful tryout contract for the 32-year-old. Stepan played in 58 games for the Hurricanes last season, recording nine goals and 19 points. Stepan had a strong pre-season, recording four points in three games.

Stepan played the first seven years of his NHL career with the New York Rangers, hitting the 50-point threshold five times. He then recorded 56 in 2017-18 with the Arizona Coyotes, but has struggled to find his footing in the years since. Stepan missed significant time during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season with shoulder surgery and had various other injuries during his time in Arizona.

Stepan adds value to the Hurricanes as a low-cost bottom-six forward that doesn’t need to play every night, but can still chip in offensively occasionally. The Hurricanes look to be a serious Stanley Cup contender, and Stepan’s value as both a depth forward and a veteran can’t be overlooked.

The Hurricanes are tight against the salary cap, so the team will likely send a player down to the AHL to create the available space. Max Pacioretty is currently on injured reserve instead of long-term injured reserve, with the winger expected to be out until the new year.