Son of Former First Overall Pick Signs NHL ELC With Powerhouse Western Team

Despite putting up some very good statistics in the Western Hockey League over the past three seasons, this 20 year old has been passed over in the NHL Entry Draft. However, teams have come knocking after a fantastic year with the Portland Winterhawks, and it the son of a former first overall NHL pick is finally getting an entry level deal.

Jason Stefan is the son of Patrik Stefan, who was taken first overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in 1999. Jason Stefan is now a member of the Edmonton Oilers.





While this latest season was certainly his best, it's not as though James Stefan was a slouch in his first couple of seasons in the WHL. James Stefan, the newest member of the Edmonton Oilers after signing a three-year entry-level deal, racked up 34 goals and 79 points in 68 games in his first season, and 22 goals and 64 points in 64 games in his second.

James Stefan's father Patrik Stefan never really lived up to the expectations of a first overall NHL pick. His best season in the NHL was with the Thrashers in 2002-03 when he scored 14 goals and 41 points. The Edmonton Oilers James Stefan's father was responsible for one of the worst missed empty net goals of all time. Possibly the worst ever in the NHL. Patrik Stefan, who was playing for the Dallas Stars at the time, managed to steal the puck from a member of, pehaps ironically, the Edmonton Oilers, with the Stars up 5-4 late in the game. Stefan somehow botched the empty net shot, and fell to the ice. The Edmonton Oilers Ales Hemsky was then able to put the puck in the Stars net to tie the game at 5 with 2.6 seconds left in the third.


James Stefan marks the Edmonton Oilers second heavily pursued amateur free agent singing in the last few days. Goaltender Connor Ungar, who had an excellent season with the Brock Badgers, also signed an entry-level deal with the team. Connor Ungar has an impressive record of 26-6-0, with an .932 save percentage, and a 2.15 goals against average. Even though the Edmonton Oilers are currently hoping for at least a long playoff run this season, General Manager Ken Holland clearly has his eye also in the future, attempting to find gifted players overlooked in the NHL entry draft.