The Traverse City Record-Eagle’s James Cook posted a Red vs. White Game recap, discussing new Red Wings forward Mitchell Stephens‘ two-goal performance and his “fit” with the Wings:
Yzerman drafted Stephens in the second round in 2015 while with Tampa Bay, then acquired him for a 2022 sixth-round pick in late July. Stephens played for the Saginaw Spirit from 2013-17.
Stephens played in 45 games over the past two years for Tampa Bay, winning the Stanley Cup both seasons. He had three goals and four assists.
“When you’re on good teams, those teams tend to do it right on a consistent basis,” Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill said. “You bring that kind of maturity in your game and make sure you’re practicing right and you’re doing it right in games. You get to see how the very best team in the league attacks every practice, attacks every day. Just bringing that by example is important.”
Stephens, who spent a day with the Stanley Cup this summer in his hometown of Peterborough, Ontario, said he’s looking to get the same bump in Detroit that Adam Erne did when Yzerman similarly acquired him from Tampa after drafting him in the second round in 2013.
“Adam came in and ran with that opportunity that he got here,” Stephens said.
