New Jersey Devils F Lee Stempniak: NHL Trade Deadline Profile
By Ryan Ritchie
New Jersey Devils F Lee Stempniak: NHL Trade Deadline Profile
New Jersey Devils F Lee Stempniak was originally drafted by St.Louis 148th overall (5th round) in 2003 after a breakout year at Dartmouth College.
He scored 21 goals, adding 28 assists (49 points) in 34 games. He was an above point-per-game player his next two seasons of college hockey.
Stempniak split time between Peoria and St.Louis his rookie season in 2005-06. He had 15 points in 26 games with Peoria, adding 27 points in 57 games with St.Louis.
His sophomore season in 2006-07 marked his single season career-high, scoring 27 goals, 25 assists (52 points) in 82 games.
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His numbers dropped in 2007-08 to 13 goals, 25 assists (38 points) in 80 games.
Bouncing back in 2008-09, Lee put up 13 points in 14 games. Enough to impress Toronto, Lee Stempniak was traded to the Maple Leafs in November 2008 for D Carlo Colaiacovo and F Alex Steen. He produced 31 points in 61 games with Toronto, bringing his season total to 44 points in 75 games.
Never managing to have an impact, Lee appeared in 62 games for Toronto (30 points) in 2009-10 before he was traded to Phoenix for a prospect and pair of draft picks at the 2010 trade deadline.
Following the deadline deal, Stempniak went on to produce 18 points in 18 games for the Coyotes down the stretch. He added a pair of helpers in seven playoff games. He spent one more season with Phoenix in 2010-11, producing 38 points in 82 games.
Next summer, Lee Stempniak was traded to Calgary for F Daymond Langkow. After close to three seasons of disappointment, Stempniak was traded on deadline day for a second time.
He joined Pittsburgh, tallying 11 points in 21 games down the stretch, adding two goals and an assist in 13 playoff games.
In the following summer of 2014, Stempniak signed with the New York Rangers. After posting 18 points in 53 games, Lee Stempniak became a casualty of the trade deadline for a third time.
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This time, adding playoff depth for the Winnipeg Jets. He produced 10 points in 18 games down the stretch, adding one goal in a first round sweep.
Unable to find a contract in 2015-16, Stempniak was forced to accept a PTO (Professional Tryout Offer) with the New Jersey Devils. After an impressive training camp, Lee signed a one-year deal.
On pace to surpass his single season career-high of 52 points, New Jersey Devils F Lee Stempniak is on track to earn himself a decent contract this summer. He has 16 goals, 25 assists (41 points) in 63 games so far.
via Toronto Sun,
Every year, it is the same. The trade deadline approaches and Lee Stempniak mentally packs his bags and waits for the phone call that will tell him where he’ll be moving next. It’s not that he’s Chicken Little worried that the sky is falling. He’s just realistic.
Stempniak, an 11-year veteran for the New Jersey Devils, has played for eight different teams. He’s been traded four times, including at each of the last two deadlines. He might not be at the level of Mike “Suitcase” Sillinger, who was traded a record nine times, but he’s already got more jerseys than there are days of the week.
“Change is not always bad,” said Stempniak, a pending unrestricted free agent who leads the New Jersey Devils with 41 points in 62 games. “I’ve been through it before three times. I’ve always sort of prepared for it.”
Two years ago, Stempniak was traded from the Calgary Flames to the Pittsburgh Penguins days after his wife gave birth to twin girls. A year later, he missed their first birthday when he was traded from the New York Rangers to the Winnipeg Jets.
New Jersey Devils F Lee Stempniak is on a one-year deal worth $850,000.
Best Fits:
Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, St.Louis Blues
Hypothetical Trade:
New Jersey Devils F Lee Stempniak to Los Angeles for F Michael Mersch and 2016 3rd Round Pick
Next: NHL Trade Deadline: Depth Options
NHL Trade Deadline Profiles:
Loui Eriksson BOS | Eric Staal CAR | Jonathan Drouin TB | Dan Hamhuis VAN | Mikkel Boedker ARZ | Keith Yandle NYR | John-Michael Liles CAR | P.A. Parenteau TOR |
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