For Caps prospect Chandler Stephenson, it’s easy to be overlooked. The Capitals made two selections in the first round before selecting him, so Stephenson may not be on every Caps fans’ radar. But the third round pick can play. He was the fifth overall pick by Regina in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft, he was invited to Canada’s Under-18 2011 selection camp with Tom Wilson, and he was Regina’s fourth best scorer last season. For those who went to Development Camp, you’ll recall Stephenson dropped the mitts with Max Iafrate after a few questionable hits by the latter.

On Friday night, Stephenson scored his first goal of the WHL regular season, and it was a big one. With 15.4 seconds left in the regulation against the Red Deer Rebels, the Saskatoon-born forward was first to a rebound and put the puck past the Rebels’ goalie Bolton Pouliot. It would stand up as the game-winner.

Video is below. (Warning: homers yelling.)

Stephenson’s goal is at 1:08 mark, assist is at 0:42 mark. (Video credit: WHL)

Stephenson also assisted on a goal by Dyson Stevenson that gave the Pats the lead early in the third period. Stephenson, who had 42 points in 55 games with the Pats last season, now has one goal and five assists in seven regular season games.

Photo credit: Phil Andrews.

Mitchell at Caps Development Camp over the summer (Photo credit: BridgetDS).

Mitchell (left) speaks to Trevor Bruess and Wade MacLeod. Photo credit: Chris Gordon/CapsSnaps.com

The Capitals have some great middleweight, gritty forwards. Guys like Matt Hendricks and Matt Bradley. Steve Pinizzotto is also down on the farm in Hershey. Now you can add one more name to that list: Garrett Mitchell.

The Capitals announced today that they signed the free agent right wing to a three-year entry-level contract beginning next season. The 19-year old Mitchell became the latest player from the 2009 Draft to be signed by the Caps. Previously, Marcus Johansson (1st round, 24th overall), Dmitri Orlov (2nd round, 55th overall), Cody Eakin (3rd round, 85th overall) and Brett Flemming (5th round, 145th overall) all elected to sign their entry-level deals. That leaves only Boston College defenseman Patrick Wey (4th round, 115th overall) — a member of Team USA in the 2011 WJC — and Benjamin Casavant (7th round, 205th overall) without contracts. Suffice to say, a very bountiful and productive draft class for General Manager George McPhee.

Mitchell, picked 175th overall in 2009 Entry Draft, would seem to project as a future third or fourth line player in the NHL if he develops fully. According to the HF page about Mitchell, his upside (besides the physical aspects) are leadership, penalty killing and skating.

When Hockey’s Future analyzed the Capitals ’09 draft class, this is what they had to say about Mitchell:

What Mitchell lacks in talent and finishing ability, he makes up with an incredible work ethic and hard-nosed play. Even at his size, Mitchell is able to play a very effective checking role for the Regina Pats of the WHL. The Regina native’s tough play is evidenced by his 140 penalty minutes in 71 games in 2008-09. Playing hard every shift does not necessarily translate to offensive results though, as evidenced by 10 goals and 15 total points all of last season. The main knock on Mitchell is that he has no finishing ability. If he can improve the offensive aspects of his game just a little, Mitchell could turn out to be an excellent role/energy player in the NHL one day.

A comparable NHL player Mitchell would be the St. Louis Blues’ B.J. Crombeen. In Crombeen’s second year with the OHL’s Barrie Colts after being drafted by St Louis, he posted 49 points and 113 PIM. Mitchell this year currently has 51 points and 140 PIM’s.

The 19 year-old Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada native played in one AHL game with the Bears last season, but didn’t post anything memorable. While captain of his WHL team, the Regina Pats, he has participated in some brawls at the junior level. The Pats did not make the playoffs this year so when the WHL’s regular season ends — and the Pats only have one game — Mitchell will most likely report to the Hershey Bears and play under an amateur tryout contract (ATO).

Finally, make sure to checkout Puckhead’s Thoughts feature about Mitchell and his Fight Card on HockeyFights.com which includes this beatdown of Daniel Gibb of the Prince George Cougars.

Wow.

Finally, feel free to follow Mitch on Twitter and congratulate him! What a big day it must be for him.