Chandler Stephenson

As such, he earned a final NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranking of 33rd amongst Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players.

Chandler Stephenson (born April 22, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Stephenson was born on April 22, 1994, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, to parents Bev and Curt Stephenson.

He was born into a hockey playing family, as his uncle Bob, and cousins Joe Kocur played at the National Hockey League (NHL) level, and cousins Logan Stephenson and Shay Stephenson played for international hockey leagues in Europe and Asia.

Growing up, Stephenson played ringette with the Saskatoon Cobras before he was old enough to play ice hockey.

Although his brother Colton also played ice hockey, he retired at the age of 19 after suffering his fifth diagnosed concussion.

Growing up, Stephenson played with the Saskatoon Flyers and in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League with the Saskatoon Contacts.

At the age of 14, he was signed by his first hockey agent, a family friend named Brad Devine who also aided his brother.

From 2006 to 2009, Stephenson played bantam hockey with the Saskatoon Generals of the Greater Saskatoon Hockey League.

As a result of his junior play, Stephenson was drafted fifth overall by the Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League's (WHL) 2009 Bantam Draft.

During the offseason, Stephenson and his brother worked with a personal trainer, a skills coach, and power-skating instructors.

He joined the team for his rookie season as a 16-year old and played alongside Thomas Frazee and Colin Reddin.

As a rookie, he competed for Team West at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he led the team in scoring with four goals and two assists before suffering a leg injury.

The injury also caused him to miss his first five WHL games after the tournament ended.

Upon returning to the lineup, Stephenson finished his rookie season with a total of seven goals and 20 points through 60 games.

He was subsequently invited to participate at Team Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp.

His productive play as a rookie and sophomore earned Stephenson high preseason rankings from various scouting services.

He was ranked seventh overall amongst all WHL skaters from the NHL Central Scouting Bureau and third in the world from ISS Hockey's preseason rankings.

He previously played for the Washington Capitals organization, who had drafted him in 2012.

Born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Stephenson played with the Saskatoon Flyers and with the Saskatoon Contacts in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League before joining the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League.

Following his rookie season with the Pats, Stephenson was selected by the Capitals in the 3rd round (77th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

He returned to the Pats for two more seasons where he broke out offensively and recorded career-highs in goals, assists, and points.

By December, he had surpassed his previous seasons point total and was invited to participate in the 2012 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

Stephenson finished his sophomore season with 22 goals and 42 points through 55 games, despite missing six weeks with a knee injury.

He also helped the Pats qualify for the WHL Playoffs for the first time in four years, where he recorded one goal and three assists in five post-season games.

Stephenson was eventually drafted in the third round, 77th overall, by the Washington Capitals in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Following the draft, Stephenson increased his point total and finished the season with 14 goals and 31 assists for 45 points through 46 games.

The following season, Stephenson broke out offensively and recorded career-highs in goals, assists, and points as he played his first full season.

Upon concluding the 2013–14 season, Stephenson signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Capitals and was immediately assigned to American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hershey Bears, on an amateur try-out.

He finished the 2013–14 season with 30 goals and 59 assists for 89 points through 69 games.

Stephenson led the Pats in points and had the teams' highest plus-minus rating with a plus-27.

With his assistance, the Pats finished second in the Eastern Conference and won the East Division title.

Upon concluding the 2013–14 season with the Pats, Stephenson signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Capitals on April 12, 2014.

He was immediately assigned to American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hershey Bears, on an amateur try-out.

He made his AHL debut on April 16, 2014, against the Norfolk Admirals and scored his first career AHL goal on his first shot in the first period.

Stephenson started his professional career with the Bears and played two full seasons with the team before making his NHL debut on October 15, 2015.

Despite this, he continued to be a mainstay on the Bears lineup before joining the Capitals full time during the 2017–18 season.

Stephenson later won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Capitals in 2018.

In 2019, he was traded to the Golden Knights, where he experienced a breakout, setting career-highs in goals and points.

He then won a second Stanley Cup in 2023.