Canadiens recall former second-round pick

The Canadiens recalled veteran utility forward Mitchell Stephens from the AHL’s Laval Rocket on Friday, according to a team announcement. The news comes after top-six forward Alex Newhook sustained a lower-body injury in last night’s game against the Panthers, suggesting he’ll miss some time.

This is Stephens’ first recall since signing with the Canadiens as a free agent in 2022. The 26-year-old, who has amassed 72 NHL games with the Lightning and Red Wings over the past five years, failed to crack the Canadiens’ roster out of camp in back-to-back seasons and has instead spent the entirety of his Montreal tenure on assignment with Laval. He last skated in the NHL in 2021-22, suiting up in just 27 games with the Red Wings as he missed most of the season with a lower-body injury.

Stephens, who played just 28 AHL games between 2019 and 2022, has taken his return to full-time duty in the minors in stride. He’s off to a good start this season, recording three goals and 12 points through 16 games with the Rocket. The 2015 second-round pick of the Lightning has always been a solid producer at the lower level, notching 137 points in 219 career AHL games across eight seasons.

Stephens is the highest-scoring player among the likely call-up options for the Canadiens at this stage. Team points leader Joshua Roy, selected 150th overall in 2021, is still just 20 years old. The Canadiens likely want to keep Roy with Laval to aid in his development. Second-leading scorer Brandon Gignac is not signed to an NHL contract, while Sean Farrell, who’s tied with Stephens in points, is out indefinitely with an injury sustained this week.

Without the need for a center in the lineup (Newhook was playing on the wing), Stephens will likely sit as a healthy scratch for Saturday’s game against his former team, the Red Wings. Instead, grinder Michael Pezzetta will likely enter the lineup in Newhook’s absence after sitting as a healthy scratch for the last two games.

Stephens, who signed a one-year, two-way deal with a salary guarantee of $385K to remain a Hab last summer, will be an unrestricted free agent in 2024.