Get to Know the Carolina Hurricanes: Lee Stempniak
The Carolina Hurricanes made a couple of moves this off season that brought some change to the roster. Now that players are arriving in Raleigh, its time to get to know the unfamiliar faces. Today we look at Lee Stempniak.
Lee Stempniak signed with the Carolina Hurricanes this off season for two years $2.5 per year. During the 2015-2016 season he outperformed expectations and scored 51 points with the Devils and Bruins.
Lee Stempniak, RW
Height/Weight: 5’11″/190lbs
Shoots: Right
Born: February 4, 1983 (age 33) West Seneca, NY
Drafted: 148th Overall 2003, St. Louis Blues
NHL Experience: 11 Years
Spempniak was originally a camp invite with the Devils in 2015, signing on originally with a PTO. Stempniak quickly proved he had a lot left in the tanks scoring 16 goals and 25 assists before the trade deadline.
Leading up to the trade deadline he was a hot commodity and eventually landed in Boston for the price of a second and fourth round pick. This trade marked the third consecutive season that the winger was traded.
Upon arriving in Boston he scored three goals and 10 assists over 19 games. Though his production fell off near the end of the year, he was signed by the Carolina Hurricanes during the off season.
Veteran Winger to Bring Scoring and Experience
There were a few major needs for the Carolina Hurricanes to address this off season. The main issue facing the team was the lack of scoring. The Canes finished 27th in the league in goals for during the 2015-2016 season.
Signing a veteran player who can score solved two needs, while keeping the price tag low. Stempniak’s 51 points would have tied him with Jeff Skinner for first place on the team, and with 19 goals he would have ranked fourth on the team.
Ron Francis and Bill Peters are hoping that he can maintain that level of scoring this upcoming season to boost the Carolina Hurricanes to win close games. The Canes left points on the table last season by losing 16 games in overtime. To make the playoffs the team will need to turn these overtime and shootout losses into wins.
Stempniak brings experience to the team, that the Hurricanes currently lack. The Canes currently only have six players that are over 30 years old. Stempniak will be able to help teach younger players how to better play in the National Hockey League.
Though the veteran group is small they can still be effective and have a huge impact in the locker room. Lee Stempniak will be able to impact the team as much off the ice as he will be on the ice.
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