Could Stempniak be heading to Thrasherville?
Craig Custance informed us recently that Thrashers GM Rick Dudley has “touched base” with the agent of Lee Stempniak. The 27-year right wing is still an unsigned UFA who is coming off a three-year contract that paid a total old $7.5 million.
So, is this a “where there is smoke, there is fire” situation? I mean, why would Dudley & Co. let something like this leak out if there wasn’t not any “there” there? And certainly general managers “touch base” with agents all the time…right?
Lee Stempniak, seen here in action against the Nashville Predators, scored 28 goals last season (AP/Frederick Breedon)
Adding some fuel to the flames of speculation is that the Thrashers are looking to replace the two-dozen or so goals that boarded a plane with with Maxim Afinogenov and flew off to Russia. So, it reasons that the 6’-0” 190 lb Stempniak could conceivably fill such a void.
Between Toronto and Phoenix last season he amassed 28 goals and 30 assists during a total of 80 games played. He had an EVEN +/- rating…-10 in 62 games with the Maple Leafs, +10 during 18 games played with the Coyotes. The season before that he had 14 goals, 30 assists and was a –12 while splitting time with the Leafs and St. Louis Blues.
Stempniak grew up in western New York, graduating from St. Francis High School in 2001. His parents insisted he attend college, so he went to Dartmouth where he majored in economics while playing hockey. In his four seasons with the Big Green he scored 63 goals and 88 assists in 135 ECAC games played.
In the summer of 2003 he was drafted 148th overall by the St. Louis Blues.
After four years of college hockey, Stempniak joined the Blues for the 2005-06 season. He was sent down to the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL around New Years, but returned to St. Louis a month later after the Blues traded away Doug Weight and Mike Sillanger. In his first game back, he scored the tying goal during regulation then the game-winning shootout goal in a 3-2 win over Calgary. He played in a total of 57 NHL games that year, scoring 14 goals and 27 assists.
The next season Stempniak played in all 82 games for St. Louis. That year he led the Blues with 27 goals while playing on a line with David Backes and Jay McClement.
Would you like to see Lee Stempniak signed by the Thrashers?
- Yes - Do it now! (81%, 185 Votes)
- No - We can do better (10%, 23 Votes)
- Feh...the roster is fine the way is (9%, 20 Votes)
Total Voters: 228
Loading ...In November of 2008 the Blues dealt Stempniak to Toronto in exchange for Alexander Steen and Carlo Colaiacovo. He played there for remainder of that season and into last year’s campaign, plying in 123 games for the Leafs, scoring 25 goals and 36 assists. He was traded by Toronto to Phoenix on March 3 of this year for Matt Jones and a pair of draft picks.
Stempniak didn’t exactly wander aimlessly in the desert, though, as he netted 14 goals and 4 assists. He earned NHL player of the month honors for the month of March. And last April he experienced the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in his career while with the Coyotes. He had 2 assists in the seven game series loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
For his career, he has 96 goals, 113 assists and is a –24 in 374 NHL games.
What would it cost to acquire Stempniak? As stated above, he is coming off a three-year $7.5 million. Last season he earned $3.5 mil, the season before that his salary was $2.5 mil and $1.5 mil in the first year of the contract.
According to CapGeek.com, the Thrashers are still about $20 million under the cap. So even if he commands similar compensation, Atlanta has more than enough room, (DUH5).
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227 comments Add your comment
Rhythmpenguin
August 25th, 2010
7:57 am
What make Cormier more ready? Is it age and/or experience?
kracker
August 25th, 2010
7:58 am
Ripe for the plucking?? from twitter…
capgeek The #canucks and #redwings lead the #nhl in players signed to one-way deals with 24 apiece. http://bit.ly/bCoEoR
capgeek After the Torres signing, the #nhl #canucks have 24 players on one-way contracts and are $3.6m over the cap http://bit.ly/cyEkBF
kracker
August 25th, 2010
8:03 am
Flames, I don’t think Burmistrov is eligible to go to Chicago, as he played in the CHL last season and is under age 20. Burma is like Bogo and Kane the last two seasons. He is an all or nothing player, he either makes the Thrashers during his 9 game tryout or he must go back to juniors for the entire season.
Flames
August 25th, 2010
8:08 am
Duds loves his size 6′2 -206 lbs. and his Grit. The kid is tough and will be able to hold his own in the NHL. He also has little more experience under his belt than Burmistrov (Drafted in 2008), not much more than Burmistrov. Cormier is a going to be a leader. He was Captain in the 2010 Junior Team Canada. Cormier will be given every chance to make the team.
Flames
August 25th, 2010
8:09 am
Kracker- I do believe you are right….
Rhythmpenguin
August 25th, 2010
8:12 am
How about Bolts as a candidate for captain. He is a veteran has been with us for a few seasons, and is currently leading players in drills as they trickle into Atlanta.
Rawhide
August 25th, 2010
8:14 am
My guess is that if Stempniak is signed here, Spencer Machacek’s chances of playing at the NHL level slims somewhat.
I would assume LS would joing Bergfors, Antropov, Peverley, Kane and Byfuglien as a top-sixer.
Little, Slater and Ladd on line three with Eager, Cormier and Boulton/Thorburn on line four. Maybe Rissmiller makes a 14th forward if the Thrashers wanna go with 2 forwards and a defenseman for healthy scratches.
That would leave the question…what to do with Machacek?
Given Dudley’s stated intention to play the young-uns, my guess is that he’s been in touch with Stempniak’s agent to see if he can pick him up on the cheap. If he can, OK. If not then no harm was done.
This may open a con of worms but…who do you think is more likely to make the team, Burmistrov or Cormier and why?
Rhythmpenguin - If given the choice between the two, I say Cormier makes the team. As has been stated previoulsy, Duds really likes this guy. Plus, given the time I saw the two at prospect camp, I do think PC is further along the development road than AB. But Burmistrov is really gonna be something down the road.
Flames
August 25th, 2010
8:18 am
I am a huge Boulton fan!!! I would love to see that happen, but I think he will be a healthy scratch during some of the games. You want your Captain on the ice all the time.
kracker
August 25th, 2010
8:25 am
Boults is a good possibility for the C…although he is forever on the edge of being displaced. I would really prefer to have the same captain for a few years.
Rhythmpenguin
August 25th, 2010
8:26 am
Good thought Flames.
Yeah, Alex is going to be something. I can’t wait to see a team with him and Evander up front and Zach and Toby in the back!
kracker
August 25th, 2010
8:26 am
Yes, Flames is right on!
Badger Bob
August 25th, 2010
8:27 am
Hip Czech, re. number of D-men, part of the Thrashers good start last year was competition in camp for almost every role – Legace to push the goalies, Gratton to give Bolts and Thor something to worry about. That seems to be Duds style – keep everyone competing for their job. IDWT. And, yes, IDWTWA either!!
Red Light
August 25th, 2010
8:57 am
Like Flames said, Boulton won’t be the captain because your captain will be a healthy scratch too often during the season. Burmistrov cannot be sent to Chicago, unless it’s to the Blackhawks. He must play in Juniors for the entire season unless he makes the top club. Cormier will be Chicago bound if he doesn’t make the team here.
Unless I miss my guess, Antropov will be your captain. Dudley and Ramsay both said very complimentary things about him this summer and he’s a solid person off the ice too. With three years left on his contract, he makes the most sense of all. He’s a family man, which means his off-ice behavior likely will be more exemplary than most, and he doesn’t throw teammates under the bus without reason. He also performs. I’m no fan of Euro captains, but if Ladd had been inked to more than a one year deal, he would have been an excellent choice in my opinion, even though he hasn’t played one game yet. He learned from great leaders in his past: Brind’amour, Francis, Wesley, Toews, etc. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Sopel with an A.
Stempniak for $8 million over two years? No thank you.
Badger Bob
August 25th, 2010
9:18 am
I like ex-ex’s trade thoughts, but I’m not sure Philly is feeling the cap heat to the degree of moving Carter. RL, who do you like off other cap-strapped clubs, like the Roons and Nucks?
GaVaHokie
August 25th, 2010
9:23 am
re: Band Geeks… yes, I did forget about the bus trips, and the “hook ups” in the back of the charter bus. I myself had a thing for the flag corp girls, which in my High School were more popular than the cheerleaders.
Even worse scenario, you could have the daughter who hooks up with the Band Director… we had three girls that did “something” to become Drum Major… *shiver*
kracker
August 25th, 2010
9:34 am
[.....wondering if there are any openings for Band Director.....]
Buzilla in CT
August 25th, 2010
9:38 am
My brother in law went to Dartmouth and was good friends with this guy. I will tell him to put a good word in for the Thrash
World Be Free
August 25th, 2010
10:09 am
GaVa-sounds like you and I have been in similar band situations, we both have stories. When I was in HS, our marching band had 35 members; in contract our son’s high school took 283 Cobb County kids to NY via bus for the Macy’s Parade in 2005. That’s alotta kids to keep track of!
Cormier – he’s a little older and bigger. I think Alex needs to gain 15-20 lbs in muscle before he hits the big time.
I think you captain has to be a top 6 forward or top 4 defenseman to be effective.
kracker
August 25th, 2010
10:12 am
twitter – TSNBobMcKenzie RFA Steve Downie has agreed to terms on two-year, $3.7M deal with Tampa. Cap hit is $1.85M.
More for the Bolts…
Old Time Hockey
August 25th, 2010
10:17 am
I still like Slater for captain.
Hokey Clisters
August 25th, 2010
10:19 am
Mr. Rawhides,
That’s a good question and I really don’t have an answer. It appears that I’m stumped on stemp. However if LS is signed then Burma’s chances for making team are gone.
lemon drop the gloves
August 25th, 2010
10:21 am
i agree with rawhide that duds is too smart to pay big bucks for stempniak at the expense of stunting the development of young players in system that are ready (machacek). this team is being built the right way and with room under the cap can afford to be patient and pluck the right player from a team with too many one-way deals or other cap issues. patience is a virtue duds-lots of movement to come in the next month.
DWTOO
August 25th, 2010
10:21 am
OK – Another Band Geek here. In the 70’s band had 250 or so members. Went to Macy’s, pro football games, Indy 500 (actually marched on the track). Also, was excused for a week of school for the consumption of alcoholic beverages in the back of the charter bus. After that our group had our own personal chaparone on all trips. Good memories.
Are all Band Directors perverts? Our director always had his female pets. Just a creepy situation.
glovesave29
August 25th, 2010
10:38 am
Chicago just sent Christobal Huet to HC Fribourg-Gotteron in the Swiss league. They are now under the cap by just $1.5M, 21 players on the roster.
My gut says there is more to the Stempniak situation. No GM is going to go to a member of the media – on the record – just to say he made a phone call. I for one, have long wanted him here. I don’t hold against him that he was less than successful in Toronto. That team is a mess…he was a good contributor in both StL and PHX. Don’t go crazy – $4M / year, but I think an incentive laden contract of 2 years at $5.7M is doable. Again – we need to pay more here to attract the talent. If we build somthing here – that will change.
All about Slater for the “C”. No one works harder on the ice. Every time you see a story about the team in the community…theres Jim. He is a quality person. I cannot say if he’s a leader in the locker room, but on every other level, he’s hard not to like.
Joe Friday
August 25th, 2010
10:43 am
We need scoring, bring Stempniak. We need someone that can pot 25 goals and he would fill the bill. I don’t know who else is left with cap problems that we could expect to be able to trade with to acquire a top 6 guy, I’d be shocked to see Philly move Carter. NJ is going to work the Kovy deal to ensure they can keep Parise, Kovy has bought into the team there and wants to work it out so it’s a win win for all.
Yeah, uh, Burmistrov can’t play in Chicago. So Dudley is high on Cormier, eh? Thanks for letting us know!
Red Light, Ladd is the likely candidate for captain, he’s everything you want a captain to be, leads by example. But Antropov fills that bill as well and will probably get the nod since he has the longer contract. Antroprov really impressed me last year after Kovy left, he filled that leadership void (like Kovy was any kind of a leader to begin with).
kracker
August 25th, 2010
10:44 am
Love Jimmy for the C. Like the guys said, he needs to play in all the games, not be a healthy scratch. So he will need to prove himself to Dud/Rammer/Torch in camp from Day One. I have to figure he is pretty good in the room. Isn’t he one of the longer tenured Thrashers players now?
I am getting a Slater jersey. It will have his first name (and mine) on the back.
SomaAtl95
August 25th, 2010
10:49 am
Thanks Flames
Its true – a life where you expect nothing but negativity really isn’t a life worth living. All the posters here have a lot of passion about their viewpoints and there is almost always a friendly debate that goes on – yet it has boiled over to “Don’t let your mouth (or in our case typing fingers) write a check your rear end cannot cash” over everything from time to time. (Lack of)Ownership, (Mis)Management, and players who made it clear they are here until something better comes along have been quite the cannon fodder for us all, along with the “Cheerleaders”, Scheduling and a bevy of other things that seem to fill the time between puck drops.
We all let our positive or negative views take over the fact that its a game we are watching. For most of us it is just a form of entertainment that we would love to see go all the way to June, and eventually it will happen. Give a room of chimps a typewriter and eventually they will start writing Shakespeare – give a room full of thrasher fans a decent set of “non-diva” players and they eventually will become winners. No matter what belief you subscribe to there is definitely a change in the air – to some of us it smells fresh and new, to others it smells like dung and is “more of the same” – but its a wonderful thing that this off season has been spent with you all, each and every day, talking about our common bond, uniting all types of people and viewpoints but we all talk about this sport that some of our northern friends go out of their way to tell us “Doesn’t belong here”
Stempniak could turn out to be a “Diamond in the rough” for us, or as I have said before Dudley may have a trick or two up his sleeve – one thing is for sure – this off season has been the most productive one in the history of our young franchise and hopefully we see the end of the “more of the same” mentality that seems to burden some of our less than enthusiastic posters. Just because we sign someone does not necessarily mean they will be here for the long haul. D-wad was not a “wheel and deal” type so lets see what Dudley does. New ground, new attitude – new results?
Chimp
August 25th, 2010
10:55 am
To be, or not to be…
GaVaHokie
August 25th, 2010
10:58 am
Another thing to consider with an All Star goal scorer (like Kovy) is how many times guys pass up a shot to feed pucks to him.
I’d rather have six 20 goal scorers than guys constantly feeding pucks to the 40 goal scorer.
A27
August 25th, 2010
10:58 am
I would like to see Lee Stempniak here…I think he would fit in well. Man, over on C-Viv blog there is a pretty nasty troll posting over there…I guess he really,really,really hates the Thrashers.
World Be Free
August 25th, 2010
10:59 am
DWTOO-Macy’s is a once in a lifetime expoerience for all, had a great time marching through New York and seeing all those people. I can’t play an instrument but my kids could, I did not have the patience.
Joe, I just see issues with Stempniak’s overall play that makes me think he’s not worth the money he will get. Especially if he pulls his disappearing act like he did in that end in St. Louis and Tronna. Guys making big bucks need to make plays, especially when we will be under the cap-no room for errors. But if signs Stempniak here, I will be fine with it.
Grape Ape
August 25th, 2010
11:02 am
To be or not to be– that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And, by opposing, end them. To die, to sleep
No more – and by a sleep to say we end
The heartache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to – ‘tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep
To sleep, perchance to dream. Ay, there’s the rub,
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause. There’s the respect
That makes calamity of so long life.
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
Th’ oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely,
The pangs of disprized love, the law’s delay,
The insolence of office, and the spurns
That patient merit of th’ unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscovered country from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pitch and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry,
And lose the name of action.—Soft you now!
The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons
Be all my sins remembered
kracker
August 25th, 2010
11:09 am
We have monkeys reciting Shakespeare….yep, it’s late August.
Brendan
August 25th, 2010
11:16 am
I think it’s too soon for Lou to trade for Pavelec. There’s no urgency for that move. But if Lou is in a “must shed payroll” situation after re-inking Kovalchuk, he’s got to move pieces and get something in return. I really don’t think Lamoriello has designs on Pavelec. Pavelec is not an established goalie.
I still say, Travis Zajac should be our target in any trade with the Devils.
Zombie Steve
August 25th, 2010
11:16 am
Sounds like the Bolts and the Thrashawks are going to have some nasty clashes this season. Get yo’ popcorn ready!
DWTOO
August 25th, 2010
11:18 am
A27- The bad news is the troll on C Viv’s blog is not even the least bit original or entertaining.
kracker
August 25th, 2010
11:41 am
ruh roh…the Kovalchuk Soggy Saga continues to stew…
mirtle Getting uglier. RT @dchesnokov: New Puck Daddy: Kovalchuk, Devils propose to Bettman, get jilted again http://yhoo.it/cSrzvA
GaVaHokie
August 25th, 2010
11:50 am
WBF… our band got an invite to do the Macy’s parade our senior year, but we also got invited to compete in Festival of States in Florida, which was a National Competition where they only chose one band from each state.
We had to choose between the two.
Kind of regret not doing the Macy’s parade, but we wanted to actually compete against the rest of the country.
Lord Stanley
August 25th, 2010
12:01 pm
Kovalchuk make this go away. Grossman your a joke, time to find a new profession.
Rawhide
August 25th, 2010
12:07 pm
Regarding C-Viv’s little moron infestation today…he’s de-trolled the blog and sanitized it.
Viv’s blog now has a nice minty-fresh clean smell to it.
World Be Free
August 25th, 2010
12:11 pm
GaVa-we competed 3 years at Bands of America Grand Nationals in Indy at the RCA Dome and finished in the top 5 all 3 times. Macy’s was wedged in these between my son’s jr and sr years. If you are a competitor, you need to compete-but Macy’s was a great time for the kids, parents too.
kracker
August 25th, 2010
12:13 pm
twitter – BenThrashers The NHL national TV schedule is being released in two hours. Have no idea of any Thrashers games will be on it.
Sure the Thrash will be on – as Penguin krill in the new rink. Maybe Caps kill, too, who knows…
It would be really nice to screw the NHL/VS schedulers out of their scarificial matchup!
kracker
August 25th, 2010
12:15 pm
Not only is it a scarified matchup, they want the Thrashers to be like sacrificial lambs, too.
Hokey P. Clisters
August 25th, 2010
12:21 pm
Once upon a midnight dreary
while I pondered weak and weary
over Grape Ape’s longwinded lore
came a rapping, then gently tapping,
at the bottom of my screen door
Twas just a possum and nothing more.
Lord Stanley
August 25th, 2010
12:28 pm
Thanks Rawhide
schroeder
August 25th, 2010
12:31 pm
Ahhh!!! my favorite…..Edgar Alan Troll!!!!
schroeder
August 25th, 2010
12:34 pm
“It was a slow week in Lake Wobegon,my hometown,out near the prarie….”
World Be Free
August 25th, 2010
12:50 pm
Rawhide-sounds like the old blog friend returned, for a 1/2 day.
Troll
August 25th, 2010
12:56 pm
Today I achieved unprecedented levels of unverifiable productivity.
kracker
August 25th, 2010
1:00 pm
Be nice to me today. I am suffering from PMS.
Puck Missing Syndrome