By Nathan Eide -
As we meander through the forwards, you will begin to notice that after Ilya Kovalchuck, there is almost no one available that is an impact player. Lee Stempniak is a good third third line winger, less than good second line winger capable of forty plus points a season, but not much more. Fairly consistent and fairly healthy, Stempniak spent most of his career on bad teams. That could be a coincidence, or it could be due to the fact that those teams relied heavily on him and he was not capable of delivering.
Current Cap Hit: $2.5 million
Verdict: 2 years, $3.5M/year.
Buddha: 48 points. It's a good, solid total. Given a center and a wingman with ability, Stempniak may even be capable of more than that. However, given the situation the Wild are in, he just does not seem to fit. If he earned his way onto the second line, someone needs to move up to the top line. If someone moves up to the top line, then Bruno or Mittens need to move down. Who moves? Is Richards ready to break up the top line to bring in Stempniak and take a risk? That's doubtful. Couple that with the fact that he is going to expect a raise from $2.5 million , and it just doesn't add up for the Wild.
Verdict: If they could get him for around what he makes now for 2 years, this is an option.
Verdict: 1 year, 2.5 - 2.75 million
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