Stillman strives for a new beginning with a penguin scranton Times-Tribune

Chase Stillman had a nap in Utica in Utica before a home game on Friday evening against Syracuse Crunch last weekend when a call changed everything.

“Yes, everything happened very quickly. I woke up from a call from the GM and let myself be known that I was being traded, ”said Stillman.

Stillman was traded by the New Jersey Devils to the Pittsburgh Penguins and switched from Last Place Utica Comets team to a Wilkes barre/Scranton Penguins team, which was challenged for the top position in the AHL atlantic department.

It was mostly a season that Stillman had forgotten up to this point.

Utica was wins in his first 13 games without profit. The long -time head coach Kevin Dineen was released and it became an unsustainable situation for everyone involved, including Stillman.

“It becomes difficult, only mentally and to the ice rink. You have to find a way to try to help and get better, ”said Stillman. “You try to change your game a little because you don't want to be the reason why you lose.”

Stillman, who turns 22 on Wednesday, felt that he lost his identity as a player a little. His term in Utica ended with 11 consecutive senseless games before he was traded on the penguins on March 7.

“As I look at it, it is not that New Jersey does not want you, but because Pittsburgh wants you,” said Stillman. “And just try to get this pace back to the pace.”

In just his second season on professional this year, the former draft pick of the first round last year scored 14 goals in 54 games as a rookie. Perhaps there is still an unused potential for Stillman, and certainly the player and his new team feel the same way.

“These are really difficult situations that have to be included in the end of the afternoon (Friday), and then we will throw them into the game (Saturday),” said the head coach of Penguins, Kirk Macdonald, about Stillman's debut last Saturday. “How, you pack your life and try to play hockey game in 24 hours. It is difficult.

“I thought he did a really good job under the circumstances. I think he's getting better. I think if he falls more comfortably in the way we want to play, he will be fine. “

The idea of ​​getting to Pro-Level in his first playoff experience is the route for Stillman in the middle of your playoff.

“I think it will be a good opportunity for me here and I'm really looking forward to it,” said Stillman about his new home at the Penguins organization. “Hopefully I can help this team and get a deep playoff run.”

Stillman has NHL trunk tree in its bloodline.

His father Cory played more than 1,000 games in the NHL and won Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay and Carolina. His older brother Riley has 161 NHL games under his belt, including three with Carolina this season.

Originally published: March 16, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. Edt