Should the Winnipeg Jets be Looking at UFA Lee Stempniak? —
We are only 4 or 5 days removed from “Free Agent Frenzy” which started on Tuesday, July 1st and the pickings are getting real slim. Like most Jets fans, I was hoping for maybe, just maybe, a little bit of a splash or maybe just dipping our toe into the free agent pool. But in reality, I knew that the dollars and term required probably wouldn’t work here so I wasn’t all that disappointed. I was very happy with the Mathieu Perreault signing but I’ll leave that conversation for another day.
Most of the marquis names in this UFA class have been signed but there are still a few serviceable pieces out there. The names being mentioned most often (as of Saturday, July 5th) are David Booth, Lee Stempniak, Dustin Penner, Michael Del Zotto and David Moss. I really like Del Zotto but I’m not holding my breath on that one.
But …
What about Lee Stempniak?
In my opinion, Lee Stempniak would be a solid add if the Winnipeg Jets could pull it off. He’s 31 years old and he still has lots of hockey left in him. He would be a solid 3rd line RW that could move into a 2nd line RW role in a pinch. He can still skate and has a better than average shot. I really got to appreciate his game first hand when he was with the Coyotes for parts of two seasons.
I mentioned on twitter that I always thought he was a pretty decent player but he can never stick with one team very long. He might be turning into the modern day version of ex-Jet 1.0 Brent Ashton. He must have a limited shelf life?
In my opinion, Lee Stempniak would be a low risk acquisition that could be a bridge player until some of the prospects start to appear in a year or two. He would probably be looking for a 2-3 year deal with similar cash as his last contract ($2,500,000 *AAV on a two year deal).
*AAV – The player’s annual average salary factoring in all performance bonuses.
I could see the Jets maybe offering a two year deal at $2,500,000 – $2,700,000 for two years.
What do you think Winnipeg Jets fans? Yea or nay? Let me know in the comment section below.
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The initial gut feel is he would be an upgrade and provide legitimate scoring on 3rd line. One of the Jets glaring issues has been depth of scoring and ability to control the game. Upgrading the bottom 6 is key to this. Stempniak would definitely be an upgrade but doesn’t say much given history. This signing has to be viewed as short term given youth movement.
agreed … a bridge deal for sure. The question is do the Winnipeg Jets try and sign another UFA or look at teams with salary cap problems or both?
I would like MDZ as well but stempniak would be a good signing as would booth
MDZ would be a nice LD in the second pairing
Don’t know much about him Mitch but if u camp are him to Brent Ashton I say sign him. But then were does Buff play?
Stempniak would be ok for a year or two until the prospects start arriving ….. as for Buff I still think he gets traded. He doesn’t really want to play forward.