Stephens, 24, has appeared in 45 games for the back-to-back Stanley Cup-champion Lightning over the last two seasons, totaling seven points (3-4-7) and 10 penalty minutes. In 2020-21, Stephens was limited to seven NHL games due to injury, logging one assist. He also appeared in four games for the American Hockey League's Syracuse Crunch, racking up eight points (1-7-8). The 5-foot-11, 190-pound center also skated in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games in Tampa Bay's first run to a championship, scoring one goal and adding two penalty minutes. Stephens has logged four professional seasons, appearing in 135 AHL games with the Crunch and totaling 84 points (37-47-84), a plus-29 rating and 45 penalty minutes, in addition to seven points (1-6-7) and six penalty minutes in 14 AHL postseason games. He was also selected to the 2018 AHL All-Star Game as a first-year pro.
Originally drafted by the Lightning in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Stephens previously spent four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (2013-17) with the Saginaw Spirit and London Knights. In 209 OHL games, Stephens logged 160 points (73-87-160) and 92 penalty minutes. The Peterborough, Ontario, native has also played extensively for Canada on the international circuit, combining for seven points (3-4-7) over back-to-back IIHF World Junior Championship appearances and winning a silver medal in 2017, captaining Canada to a bronze medal at the 2015 IIHF World Under-18 Championship while racking up 10 points (5-5-10) in seven games, and winning a gold medal at the 2014 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with six points (4-2-6) in five games.
