Following Tampa Bay’s selection of Peterborough, Ontario, native Mitchell Stephens with its first selection (second round, 33rd overall) at the 2015 NHL Draft, Lightning director of amateur scouting Al Murray raised a few eyebrows when he compared the 18-year-old center to Bolts alternate captain
Murray pointed to Stephens’ size, compete level and ability to play all three forward positions and in all situations to support his statement. Both Stephens and Callahan stand 5-foot-11. Stephens, at 188 pounds, is only a couple trips to the training table shy of Callahan’s 190.
With Saginaw of the Ontario Hockey League, Stephens rarely came off the ice in 2014-15, skating on the power play, penalty kill and at the end of games for the Spirits.