Stempniak Stays

 

After a long wait with much speculation as to where he might go next: free agent forward Lee Stempniak has re-signed with the Phoenix Coyotes at $3.8 million for 2 years .

  Stempniak was acquired by the Coyotes at the trade deadline last year from the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 62 games with the Leafs last year he only tallied 14 goals, 16 assists, and a plus/minus -10. After the transaction, Stempniak impressed heavily posting 14 goals, 4 assists, and a plus/minus +10 in 18 games down the stretch for the Coyotes. The 27 year-old 5 year pro ended the year with a career high in points total (48) and plus/minus (+10).  He wasn’t nearly as effective in the 7 post season games he played, only notching 2 assists.

"We are very pleased to have signed Lee to a two-year contract," Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said in a release Monday. "He played a key offensive role with our team down the stretch last season."

  Stempniak has done his fair share of bouncing around in his five years in the NHL as he has played for three different teams (St. Louis, Toronto, and Phoenix). Despite showing a strong upside at times, consistency has been lax for the Buffalo, NY native.

  The Coyotes roster is in fact deep, and if Lee can find consistency (or Coach Dave Tippett can find it for him), the Coyotes may have in fact struck gold on the original trade. 1.9 million per-year is a pretty steep price to pay for a forward that hasn’t consistently proven himself, but it hasn’t been Don Maloney’s repertoire lately to make bad decisions.

"He is just entering the prime of his career," Maloney said. "We look forward to him having continued success with our organization."

-Kendall Grubbs