James Stefan aims to follow in his father’s footsteps by pursuing a career in the NHL, but he’s charting his own course to achieve this goal.
On Thursday, Stefan officially inked a three-year entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers. The signing was initially reported by PuckPedia.com.
As an undrafted free agent, Stefan’s contract includes a salary of $775,000 at the NHL level and $82,500 when playing in the minors. Additionally, he will receive a signing bonus of $95,000 along with a games played bonus of $80,000.
Stefan’s father, Patrik, was the top overall pick in the 1999 NHL Draft, selected by the Atlanta Thrashers. Despite playing 455 games for the Thrashers and the Dallas Stars, Patrik Stefan didn’t fulfill the expectations associated with being the first overall pick. His NHL career saw highs and lows, including a career-best of 14 goals in the 2003-04 season, concluding with a total of 64 goals and 188 assists. Notably, he never experienced playoff hockey throughout his career.
Interestingly, one of Patrik Stefan’s most infamous NHL moments occurred against the Edmonton Oilers. In a 2007 game, Stefan infamously missed an empty-net opportunity for the Stars, allowing the Oilers to quickly counterattack and tie the game, resulting in an unforgettable turn of events.
James Stefan’s Journey: From WHL Standout to Oilers’ Prospect
James Stefan, while not as highly hyped as some prospects, shares his father’s position as a forward and is coming off a strong 99-point season with the Portland team in the Western Hockey League. According to reports from PuckPedia.com, Stefan attracted interest from approximately 6-8 teams for potential signings.
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During his tenure with Portland spanning three seasons, Stefan showcased his scoring ability by netting 109 goals and amassing a total of 254 points across 251 WHL games.
In preparation for the 2023-24 season, James Stefan participated in the Ottawa Senators’ rookie camp before being reassigned to Portland. His contract with the Edmonton Oilers will commence next season, with plans for him to join the Bakersfield team in the American Hockey League.
