Chandler Stephenson Confident in Determined Kraken squad

When Chandler Stephenson signed a seven-year deal with the Seattle Kraken on July 1, it wasn't just him who was thrilled about the move. His two-year-old son, Ford, had to adjust from cheering for the Vegas Golden Knights to embracing the new team.

"He still walks around sometimes saying, 'Vegas Golden Knights!'" said Stephenson, who spent the past five seasons with Vegas before joining Seattle. "Now we have him saying, 'Seattle Kraken!' so he might be a bit confused right now. We showed him the video of the pregame intro at the arena where they have the projection of the tentacle on the ice, and he really likes that. He's into sea monsters, dinosaurs, and things like that."

Stephenson and his wife, Tasha, along with their two children, Ford and three-month-old Nellie, have been caught up in a whirlwind since the contract was signed. The family has received tremendous support from Kraken players and their families, making the transition smoother.

"We had about 30 minutes to decide to sign with Seattle," Stephenson joked. "Everyone has been great�players and people from the organization have reached out and offered help in any way they can. My wife has also heard from wives and girlfriends on the team, which has been nice for us too."

Having familiar faces in Seattle has eased the adjustment. "We had lunch with Jaden Schwartz and his girlfriend," shared Stephenson, who, like Schwartz, hails from Saskatchewan. "I'll also be playing with Andre Burakovsky again, whom I played with in Washington, and Philipp Grubauer, whom I also played with in Washington. I don't know him personally, but Jordan Eberle and I played for the same junior team, the Regina Pats."

Stephenson joins other notable signings like defenseman Brandon Montour, fresh from winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers. "It's a great group," Stephenson affirmed. "Just look at the lineup, and you'll understand why."

While Stephenson hasn't fully shifted focus to the 2024-25 NHL season amidst packing and relocating, he eagerly anticipates hitting the ice. "You're still processing everything�packing up, moving to a new city, finding a place to live, settling in�but when you do think about the season, you can't help but get excited."

One major perk for Stephenson is no longer having to play against Seattle. He vividly remembers the 2024 NHL Winter Classic where the Kraken's relentless style posed challenges for opponents like Vegas. "They're all over you," Stephenson recalled. "They apply pressure immediately, and they're frustrating to play against."

With 10 goals and 20 points in Vegas' 2023 Stanley Cup run, Stephenson is poised to contribute effectively to Seattle. "As we get closer to moving there, our excitement only grows," he shared. And it's not just Stephenson and his wife�Ford, Seattle's youngest fan, is also thrilled about attending home games. "He's got a lot of energy, and I think he's going to have a blast."

This article captures Chandler Stephenson's journey from Vegas to Seattle and his family's enthusiastic embrace of their new hockey home.