Doesn't it always feel good to see an old friend again? You're traveling and making a pit stop when you see one of your old Vegas Golden Knights buddies parked at the same place. You greet each other, give hugs, and block everyone's pathways to getting around.
"Do you remember this Misfit?"
"What about this game? Man, what a finish!"
That's what the Golden Knights will experience on Saturday as the Seattle Kraken will come to town. No, they're not bringing any soy lattes from Starbucks with them. Instead, they're bringing an old member of the 2023 Stanley Cup championship team to Vegas. His name? Chandler Stephenson.
The center spent five seasons in Las Vegas, scoring 75 goals and 162 assists for the Golden Knights. Now? He's in the midst of a seven-year, $6.25 million AAV contract, watching the Mariners miss the postseason annually. At least he's not watching John Fisher sabotage a baseball team to get what he wants.
The memories will pour in for fans who remember his 2023 Stanley Cup run, where he scored 10 goals and 10 assists. Now, they'll see a forward who's on a non-playoff team. The Kraken are sixth in the Pacific Division with 32 points. That's a far cry from having 45 points and leading that same division, where the Golden Knights stand. But let's look at Stephenson's season since we last spoke of him. Has he gotten better? Well, it's a mixed bag.
The good and bad of Chandler Stephenson in 2024-25
The good thing about Chandler Stephenson is he leads the Seattle Kraken in assists entering Saturday with 18. Being at the top of any mark for a team is always good, specifically when your new team isn't doing much.
But that's where that good news ends. He only has three goals in 33 games for the Kraken. According to MoneyPuck, his Corsi (46%) is below 50%, and his Fenwick's 45%. Overall, his shot selection has suffered from this, leaving him with goals he can count on his hand.
Granted, he's playing more of a defensive game, as proven by his 18 blocked shots and 17 takeaways. But Stephenson was never meant to be a defensive player in the system. His main purpose was setting up offensive plays by using his speed.
This isn't entirely his fault, though. The Kraken's leading point-scorer is Jared McCann (26 points). He's also the team's leading goal-scorer with 11 goals, meaning there isn't much center depth on the team. When you don't have forwards like Jack Eichel or Mark Stone, you're not getting as much output as expected.
Still, fans can expect a cheery reunion where the former Golden Knights center gets a warm reception. He was integral to the franchise finishing their story in 2023, adapting well on every line he played on. However, he's on the enemy team now. Therefore, he'll have a target on his back as the Golden Knights look to capitalize on a ten-game stretch with eight games at T-Mobile Arena.