Mark Bell not the Only Unemployed Player Coming to Camp

Lost in the Mark Bell tryout news, which I must say I’m looking forward to seeing how that all pans out, was the news that there’s another veteran getting a tryout during this year’s camp. Logan Stephenson is a 23 year old defenseman from Saskatoon with three years in the AHL under his belt. He’s a former second round pick from the 2004 draft (just missed out on adding to your collection Paul!) who spent all of his Major Junior career with the Tri-City Americans of the WHL, and his first two years of pro with the Coyotes AHL affiliate. But he had quite the opposite experience last year, being a throw-into bigger deals twice in one season.

He’s another stay-at-home defenseman who doesn’t put up many points that has a slight edge when he needs it. At 6’3 and almost 200 lbs. he has decent size and uses it well, according to Hockey’s Future:

Stephenson is a big aggressive, stay at home defenseman. He is very methodical and he is very aware of his coverage responsibilities. He uses his size, strength and grit to block and clear opponents from the net. He uses the body, hits hard and finishes his checks. Because of his style and approach, teams often try to work away from him. He is very confident down low and is able to move the puck up ice with success. He has great skating ability, good vision and good hands. He shoots the puck really well and he’s got an excellent one-timer. Stephenson is a hard worker and a leader on the ice and his peers look up to him.

So after being traded to the Ducks and then to the Blackhawks at the trade deadline in the Wisniewski-Pahlsson trade the Hawks chose not to resign Stephenson when his entry-level contract expired in May. So chances are Stephenson’s hungry, but he has a steep hill to climb. The Flyers already have 16 defensemen under contract, so this kid is really going to have to impress Homer in order to earn a spot on the Phantoms. Chances are Stephenson will end up playing against the Phantoms this season or in the East Coast League unless he’s made some significant improvements during this off-season.

Here’s a clip of LS beating the hair off of someone, because….that’s what we do at this blog: