Derek Stepan

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Derek Stepan
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Stepan with the Rangers
Born (1990-06-18) June 18, 1990 (age 33)
Hastings, MN, USA
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb)
Position Center
Shoots Right
NHL team New York Rangers
National team  United States
NHL Draft 51st overall, 2008
New York Rangers
Playing career 2010–present

Derek Kenneth Stepan (born June 18, 1990) is an American professional ice hockey center and an alternate captain for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Stepan was drafted in the second round, 51st overall, by the Rangers in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and afterwards attended the University of Wisconsin, where he played for the Badgers hockey team in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association WCHA. On July 1, 2010, he signed his first professional contract with the Rangers, forgoing his junior and senior years at Wisconsin.[1] On October 9, 2010, he became the first player in Rangers history, and the fourth in NHL history, to score a hat-trick in his NHL debut. On May 13, 2015, Stepan scored the overtime goal vs the Capitals at 11:24 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals to send them to play Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference Finals. [2]

Playing career

Amateur

Stepan attended high school at Shattuck-Saint Mary's, where he played on the hockey team. He scored 81 points during his junior year and 111 during his senior year at the school.[3] He then attended the University of Wisconsin, where he played for the Badgers hockey program in the WCHA.

Professional

On July 1, 2010, Stepan signed his first professional contract with the Rangers, forgoing his junior and senior years at Wisconsin.[1] In the autumn of 2010, having attended Rangers' training camp and playing for the team during the pre-season, Stepan made the transition from Wisconsin to the NHL. He scored a hat-trick in his first NHL game on October 9, 2010, against Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres, becoming the first rookie in Rangers history to do so, en route to a 6–3 victory.[4] He is only the fourth player in NHL history to have scored a hat-trick in his debut, joining Alex Smart of the Montreal Canadiens (January 14, 1943), Réal Cloutier of the Quebec Nordiques (October 10, 1979) and Fabian Brunnström of the Dallas Stars (October 15, 2008). Stepan was announced as part of the 2011 NHL All Star roster on January 11, 2011, and played in NHL SuperSkills on January 29, 2011.

In the 2012–13 season, Stepan finished the campaign tied for the NHL lead with four short-handed points.[5] On September 26, 2013, Stepan was signed to a two-year contract extension worth $6.15 million.[5] On September 24, 2014 Stepan suffered a broken leg in a non-contact drill during a Rangers practice.[6]

Following the 2014–15 NHL season Stepan became a restricted free agent under the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement. The New York Rangers made him a qualifying offer to retain his NHL rights. However, Stepan rejected the initial deal, which was worth $5.2 million a year. On July 5, 2015, Stepan filed for Salary Arbitration, demanding at least $7.25 million a year. [7]

On the morning of July 27, 2015, just hours before his arbitration hearing was scheduled to occur, Stepan and the Rangers settled on a six-year, $39 million contract.[8] This deal sets Stepan's salary at $6.5 million, and makes him the 2nd highest paid Rangers forward, behind Rick Nash who receives $7.9 million a year.

Personal life

Stepan was born into a hockey family, as his father Brad was also a draft pick of the Rangers in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. Stepan's younger cousin, Zachary, was selected 112th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.[9] On August 9, 2014, Stepan married his longtime girlfriend Stephanie Kent in their home state, Minnesota. Stephanie gave birth to the couples first child Maxwell Joseph Stepan on October 27th 2015.

International play

Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing the  United States
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2010 Saskatoon

At the 2010 IIHF World U20 Championships, Stepan was the captain of the United States team and led the tournament in scoring with four goals and ten assists in seven games, leading to an All-Star Team selection.[10][11][12][13] He captained the United States to win their second gold medal ever, defeating Canada in overtime.[14]

Stepan joined the United States men's team at the 2011 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia, playing alongside Ranger teammate Ryan McDonagh and Ranger prospect Chris Kreider. He finished the tournament with seven points in seven games, and was selected as a top three player on Team USA.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2008–09 University of Wisconsin WCHA 40 9 24 33 6
2009–10 University of Wisconsin WCHA 41 12 42 54 10
2010–11 New York Rangers NHL 82 21 24 45 20 5 0 0 0 2
2011–12 New York Rangers NHL 82 17 34 51 22 20 1 8 9 4
2012–13 KalPa SM-l 12 2 2 4 0
2012–13 New York Rangers NHL 48 18 26 44 12 12 4 1 5 2
2013–14 New York Rangers NHL 82 17 40 57 18 24 5 10 15 2
2014–15 New York Rangers NHL 68 16 39 55 22 19 5 7 12 10
NHL totals 362 89 163 252 94 80 15 26 41 20

International

Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2010 United States WJC 1st 7 4 10 14 4
2011 United States WC 8th 7 2 6 7 2
2014 United States Oly 4th 1 0 0 0 0
Junior totals 7 4 10 14 4
Senior totals 8 2 6 7 2

References

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  7. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=773987
  8. http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/25251239/rangers-sign-derek-stepan-to-6-year-39-million-contract
  9. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=634805
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External links