Clay Stevenson

June 2025 – With Stevenson’s lofty expectations on high-end play since 2018-19, with no save percentage dipping below 0.916, the 2024-25 season was quite poor for him. He still had a winning record, going 18-8-4, but he had his worst save percentage at 0.888. The Bears were not a cohesive defensively and it really showed in the Hershey goaltending numbers. Stevenson also got a game in, the final game of the season, losing 5-2 to Pittsburgh but in fairness the Capitals were mainly on autopilot with many regulars scratched. He still has two years remaining on his three-year deal and both of his final two years are one-way. It is an amount that can be easily claimed off of waivers, and he is also someone other NHL teams may give an opportunity to, so a trade may occur before the season starts as there is no room in the Washington crease with both Lindgren and Thompson signed until at least the 2028 off-season. At 26, Stevenson needs a shot sooner than later. Pat Quinn

October 2024 – Stevenson will start the season in the AHL splitting with Hunter Shepard as the Bears look to make it a three-peat in Calder Cup championships. If one of Thompson or Lindgren get hurt the Capitals may give Stevenson a start or two over Shepard. Pat Quinn

July 2024 – Stevenson’s second season saw him split starts ~50/50 in the AHL with the Hershey Bears, and surprise surprise, he put up fantastic numbers again. Stevenson went 24-10-2 with a 0.922 save percentage. However, he did not get any starts in the playoffs as he played only a clean up role for Shepard but he still gained experience. Going into the 2024-25 season he should again split starts in the AHL, if Shepard remains in the Capitals fold but if he is traded then Stevenson will get the bulk of the starts. In 2025-26, Stevenson’s contract is one-way and he is also the only goalie under that type of contract with the Capitals, showing the team’s faith in him. At 25 years of age, Stevenson does not have a lot of rope to make an impression in the NHL but he will be given an opportunity to very soon. Pat Quinn

October 2023 – Stevenson played great in the ECHL, in what will likely be his only season there, as he finished the year with a 19-12-3 record, posting a 0.916 save percentage. In five playoff games, Stevenson registered a 0.926 in a round losing effort. He was called up for three games in the AHL and won all three and posted a 0.924 sv%. Stevenson is really putting himself on the map as a goalie prospect to own, the issue is the contracts in front of him at the AHL level, and him being 24 needing a shot sooner than later. Stevenson will battle Shepard for the starting role in the AHL this season. Pat Quinn

January 2023 – Stevenson has been great in the ECHL this year as the Stingrays really seem to be the starting point for Washington goalie prospects. In 16 games, as he plays half the games, he has 10 wins and a 0.931 save percentage. It is early, but Stevenson is exceeding expectations already. However, because it is the Capitals, expect at least three seasons before he sees the NHL. Pat Quinn

December 2022 – Stevenson was called up to Hershey as Shepard was called up to the NHL. He got in three games and did not look out of place with three wins and a 0.924 save percentage. Hershey is a strong team defensively too so that may inflate his numbers a bit too. Pat Quinn

October 2022 – Stevenson is confirmed to play a majority of his season in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays, as he follows a similar development path from other Capital’s goalie prospects. Pat Quinn

September 2022 – With Copley moving on as a free agent an opportunity opens up in the AHL/ECHL for Capitals goalies. The AHL starter gig likely goes to Fucale with Huntter Shepard as the likely back-up considering the time he has spent in the ECHL already. Expect Stevenson to be the starter in the ECHL for the Sting Rays as the Capitals always bring goalies along the same development path. Pat Quinn

April 2022 – The Capitals signed the most-sought after NCAA free agent goaltender to a two-year ELC beginning in the 2022-2023 season. The signing may be signaling Mitchell Gibson staying in the NCAA for an additional season, or not signing with the Capitals, so if that competition is out of the way then there is currently not a lot of competition for Stevenson to climb the ranks in Washington. He has been fantastic in his last two playing season, not including 2020-2021 where he played no recorded games, with a 0.936 save percentage in 35 BCHL games for the Coquitlam Express. This year in the NCAA, for Dartmouth College, he had a losing record but a 0.922 sv% in 23 games. He will very likely play in the ECHL or the Capitals next season, as that follows the team’s development path for goaltenders, and it will be interesting to see if he can keep up his strong play.