Stepan Embracing New Role As He Vies For Another Stint In Raleigh

RALEIGH, NC. -On August 2, 2021 Derek Stepan
signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes
.
Coming off of a frustrating COVID-19-shortened season, which was even shorter for him due to a shoulder injury, Stepan inked the deal hoping to be a contributor on a playoff team.
A natural center, he joined a roster that already had Sebastian Aho, Vincent Trocheck and Jordan Staal solidified down the middle, understanding that he'd likely be slotted in a depth role.

Three weeks later the team added Jesperi Kotkaniemi to that mix through a heavily discussed offer sheet.
While Kotkaniemi began the season on the wing, allowing him time to adapt to his new team's systems, Stepan anchored the fourth line. However, when it was apparent that Kotkaniemi, the number three overall selection in the 2018 NHL Draft, was a better fit at center, plans changed for Stepan.
For the remainder of the campaign the veteran entering his 12th season in the league was in and out of the lineup, only getting an opportunity back in the middle when illness or injury arose for one of his teammates.
But instead of commanding a trade, or pouting about his altered spot,
Stepan's positive attitude and willingness to be a good teammate
- especially for the youth of the team - stood out above all. And while he took pride in being that mentor role, there was still a hunger to be in the lineup himself and contributing as he hoped he would when he first signed.
Opportunities appeared on the wing throughout the year, giving Stepan new responsibilities for the first time in his career. Despite the expanded horizons, when postseason play rolled around he saw ice time in just three out of 14 games. Yet at his season-ending media availability he expressed a strong desire to be back.
Having five seasons of 50 points or more in his career and a clear ability to lead, there may have been opportunities elsewhere for the 32-year-old to be an every night player in the league, but he wanted to stay in Raleigh. And although he hoped that his second season in the City of Oaks would come with a contract by this point, he accepted to come to Training Camp on a professional tryout, where he aims to earn a deal within the next two weeks.
"It's a little bit of a different spot than I've been in in my career, but coming to camp you have to fight for spots. It's just that this year I'm fighting for a spot with no contract, so there's no guarantee that I'm going to be here for sure," Stepan said of the situation.
So that begs the question, why does he feel so strongly about returning, given all that had transpired?
"First of all, I love the group, the staff, the organization," he quickly offered. "But a little bit of it too was that I can prove to myself that I can be on this team and play every single night. I want to be in the lineup every night when the playoffs come. I want to be a part of a good club and still be able to do it."
"Last year I think I proved that I can be flexible, playing center or wing, chip in when you need me to and stay ready," Stepan continued. "The biggest strength of my game is that I think the game quickly and I think that's what allows me to stick around and manage the minutes that I get here. I was very, very happy with the way that I played last year and I want to prove that I can be a regular in the lineup and come playoff time I can be a difference maker."

Despite obtaining an average of just 9:39 per night when in the lineup, fewest among all skaters that operated in a minimum of ten games with the team, Stepan was incredibly effective in them. In 58 games played he averaged 0.96 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five, fourth on the team behind just Nino Niederreiter, Kotkaniemi and Seth Jarvis.
His 2.04 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five ranked sixth among all players that dressed in 20 games. Comparatively, that number ranks within the top 100 of all NHL skaters (minimum 55 games).
"He was a consistent player when relied upon and that's what you want," Jordan Staal remarked. "He played really well when he had to step in and play, whether it was a last minute or whether he was in consistently, as he was for a little while."
Staal alluded to one of the most impactful aspects of Stepan's game, which was that ability to contribute at all times. Several times Stepan would take warmups as the extra skater, standing by in case a lineup mainstay was too dinged up to participate. Perhaps most impressively, of the nine times that Stepan reentered the lineup after a stint of sitting out, he produced six points in them.
"He brought an element on and off the ice that kept the guys loose. He's fun to be around, he makes sure guys are happy to be at the rink. He's full of positivity and he was a good piece to our team's success last year," Staal continued.
That camraderie of the locker room is a big part of the desire to be here for Stepan, who also noted how happy his children and his family are to be in Raleigh.
"When I left exit meetings, I wasn't just saying it because that's what you do at the end of the year. I truly meant it and I'm glad that they have given me an opportunity to try and come back."
Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour is happy to see him attempting to return as well.
"He was good for us. He knows that he's not going to be that top line, second line kind of player anymore, but he has value," the 2021 Jack Adams Award winner spoke. "He has that experience and he knows how to play. That leadership role that he's played is really important and I think he understands."
Acknowleding that he is, in fact, not the same player that he used to be, Stepan still sees the current version of himself, leadership included, as someone who can do good for the Canes once again.
"If you sit there and fight it and say "I'm still this player, I'm still this player", you're never going to be successful as the one you've become. You come to a crossroads," the fan-favorite closed with. "But I was very happy with the role I was given last year and I want to do it again. It's a good fit for me. I'm really excited to be back here through camp and ultimately I want to stay here and stay in this locker room."
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