The Edmonton Oilers are adding to their roster. Before they faced off against the Buffalo Sabres in their 67th game of the year, the team announced that they have signed forward James Stefan to a three-year entry-level contract.
Further details about the contract will be shared once available.
James Stefan had a long-time connection to the Oilers
Stefan is a 20-year-old right wing playing with the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL. Per his CHL profile, the right-shooting winger clocks in at 6’0″ and 186 pounds. Yes, you might have been thinking the name sounds familiar, and that’s because Stefan’s dad is former first-overall pick Patrik Stefan.
The same Patrik Stefan that played in the Dallas Stars versus Edmonton Oilers game on January 4, 2007. You know, the one where Stefan infamously missed the empty net that led to the Oilers going back the other way and Ales Hemsky getting the incredible game-tying goal with two seconds remaining.
Yep, that’s the one. So looks like the son has watched this clip enough times to want to join the team on the winning side of one of the most iconic blunders in NHL history.
Who is James Stefan
James Stefan has been with the Winterhawks since 2019–20 and his latest season with the team has seen him post 48 goals and 51 assists for 99 points over 64 games.
2023–24 has been his best season to date, having put up 22 goals and 42 assists for 64 points in 2022–23, which was a dip from his previous career-high of 34 goals and 45 assists for 79 points in 2021–22. Stefan is a point-per-game player in the WHL, posting 254 points in 251 games.
In the past two playoffs, Stefan suited up for 20 games with the Winterhawks where he scored three goals and three assists over 11 games in 2022, and improved on his output in 2023 with seven goals and four assists in nine games.
He went undrafted in the 2022 NHL Draft despite being ranked 157th among North American players, so a late-round pick would have been completely reasonable. However, he went back to the WHL and worked on improving his game.
A big jump for Stefan
Stefan attended the Ottawa Senators’ Rookie Camp back in September 2023, but it was his WHL performance this season—clearly scouted by the Oilers—that led to being rewarded with an ELC with Edmonton.
Congratulations, Stefan!
This is an awesome choice. He is a fantastic all-around player with a wicked shot. Congratulations on the acquisition! Will have to make the trek from Portland to come and watch him play.