Coachella Valley Firebirds Re-Sign Mitchell Stephens to a 2-Year Contract

On Wednesday, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Seattle Kraken’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, announced they have re-signed forward Mitchell Stephens to a two-year contract.

Stephens spent the first few seasons of his career in the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, playing for their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. He was with the Crunch for five seasons and played his first NHL game on Dec. 9, 2019. That same season, Stephens played in seven postseason games with the Lightning en route to a Cup championship.

Ahead of the 2021-22 season, Stephens was traded to the Detroit Red Wings, where he played 27 games and recorded six assists. He then signed with the Montreal Canadiens as a free agent ahead of 2022-23 and played two seasons with their AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, and was named an alternate captain.

On July 1, 2024, Stephens signed with the Kraken as a free agent. He played 24 games with the Kraken this season but spent most of the campaign with the Firebirds, playing 35 games with 13 points. Last season, Stephens was with the Firebirds full-time, playing 69 games and scoring 12 goals and 15 assists. He also played 12 postseason games, recording four points.

The 29-year-old forward will continue to provide a veteran presence for the Firebirds. Although he isn’t known for his offensive production, he provides leadership and can eat up minutes as a dependable player in his own end. He also has a winning mentality and can help continue to build a winning culture.