Today the Carolina Hurricanes announced that Lee Stempniak had been activated from injured reserve. With recent call ups Lucas Wallmark and Aleksi Saarela back with the Charlotte Checkers, the Hurricanes rosters stands at 23 players including 14 forwards. Today’s Daily Cup of Joe takes a reasonably deep dive at considering where Lee Stempniak fits into the current equation.
Where Lee Stempniak left off exiting the 2016-17 season
It has been so long since the Caniac nation has seen Lee Stempniak in action, I think an important starting point is revisiting his role and level of play during the 2016-17 season. Coming off a strong 2015-16 season that saw Stempniak finish with 19 goals and 51 points, the Hurricanes signed Stempniak to a two-year deal worth $2.5 million per season. Stempniak showed chemistry in preseason with Victor Rask and Jeff Skinner, and the trio started hot. But as the season wore on, Stempniak bounced around lines, provided decent depth scoring but never really found a higher gear or a permanent slot in the lineup. His 16 goals and 40 points in 82 games were what I would term decent depth scoring.
My end of season evaluation for Stempniak’s 2016-17 campaign is HERE.
With the addition of Justin Williams during the offseason, Stempniak figured to slot as the third right wing behind Williams and Elias Lindholm. With his injury to start the season, Peters adjusted and moved flexible forward Teuvo Teravainen into the slot vacated by Stempniak to have three top 9 right wings.
Lee Stempniak’s transition phase
After missing exactly half of the season and not starting with any kind of rehab stint in the AHL, the initial games for Stempniak will be more about helping him get up to speed and shaking off any rust. His minutes will likely be somewhat limited initially, and he could slot about anywhere. If I had to take a guess, I think he could see some time in the first few games at right wing on the fourth line in the spot usually filled by Phil Di Giuseppe or Josh Jooris (assuming Marcus Kruger is in the lineup). Stempniak is a good enough two-way player to play on such a line, and that would also help keep his minutes to a modest number in the early going. He can also shift up higher in the lineup if he hits the ground running.
Where Stempniak might fit longer term
Longer-term, the biggest thing that Lee Stempniak brings to the lineup is depth in the form of a decent all-around player capable of providing at least depth scoring. If Sebastian Aho, who was injured on Saturday, but practiced normally on Monday is the lineup on Tuesday, the current iteration of the top 9 is not really in need of another right wing. Peters likes (for good reason) the TSA line right now which has Teuvo Teravainen in a right wing slot, and Justin Williams and Elias Lindholm fill the other two slots.
I see three scenarios for Stempniak longer-term:
1) A fourth line upgrade. If the Hurricanes stay healthy, the TSA line stays together and the team can get enough penalty kill help from higher line forwards, Stempniak could play on the fourth line with the hope that he himself can score more than the current options and even better possibly help spark the entire line.
2) Injury depth at right wing. If the Hurricanes face an injury setback at any of the six top 9 wing slots, Stempniak would be first in line to help fill the void. If the injury is on the right side, Stempniak just fills the hole directly. If the injury is on the left side, Teravainen could possibly move across to open up a spot on the right side for Stempniak.
3) A regular right wing given some shuffling. If Peters is willing to go away from the Aho/Staal/Teravainen, Stempniak could possibly present a scoring upgrade for the top 9. The general idea would be to move Teravainen to the left side into Brock McGinn’s slot and then back fill Teravainen’s slot with Stempniak. With McGinn having a strong 2017-18 campaign thus far and providing decent depth scoring considering his role and ice time, the question is whether Stempniak is an upgrade over McGinn, especially at the expense of breaking up the TSA line.
The upshot
With the Hurricanes deeper at the forward position and healthy so far, Lee Stempniak does not fill any burning needs right now, but I think he represents quality forward depth and possibly an upgrade to the fourth line. As we push closer to the trade deadline, he is exactly the kind of depth that playoff contenders often seek out. As such, he could preempt the need for Francis to add a depth type player at the forward position.
As a player who was over 50 points only two years ago, the wild card could be if he gets up to speed, finds a scoring rhythm and is fresh down the stretch because of only playing half of a season.
Regardless of where he fits, it is great to see Lee Stempniak back in the lineup after a long delay to the start of his 2017-18 season.
Go Canes!
I find it perplexing that Stempniak returns without a conditioning stint in Charlotte given the context the Canes find themselves at the time being. Shaky goaltending, a race for the po spot, Aho maybe not 100%, upcoming hard games before the break. I think it is a liability to use a player even in lesser TOI who must have lots of rust. Why not to extend Wallmark’s tryout instead or if the groin still bothers him there is several others available in Charlotte. I’d get it better if Stempniak was 1C returning from injury but he isn’t.
And do not break TSA (assuming Aho’s injury isn’t long-term). I don’t care that much who’s in the middle but TT needs Aho. And I do care that Jordo is centering them but even more important it is not to break Turbo and Aho. I know Peters wanted to wake the line up dismantling them earlier but now it is the time to look no further but TSA being the 1st line.
In the end I need to remind myself often that all injury stuff is a bit of a secrecy in NHL. Can be we fans don’t know enough about Stempniak’s injury and conditioning or that of Wallmark’s or Aho’s to draw “evidence” based conclusions.
You have practically read my mind (I know that’s a short read), but I don’t understand why Stempniak didn’t get a chance to “de-rust”, either! …and there are a few guys in Charlotte who could actually make a difference IMO! …what was his injury? Eh??
…and God forbid we’d consider finding a “NASTY NON-SMURF”, to toughen-up this CANDYCANE TEAM!
katrii, BP when asked about another Stempniak conditioning stint “We see how the last one went.” I believe that is what he said but it might be a little off. Either way, he basically said I doubt it because he was hurt on the last one.
Now that you mention it I remember BP saying that. I took it jokingly, though. AHL can be rough will less skilled players (e.g. TT loathed it, said it was not his place). The question remains there’s gotta be rust and what are the odds the team gets hurt because of it (given the critical times now). But anyhow, Stempniak is not a big worry on my list, goaltending is. Aho is.
Sorry for the typo: “AHL can be rough with less skilled…”
I think Stempniak’s return could be quite helpful. As mentioned in one of yesterday’s posts, the fourth line needs to produce some goals. Stempniak will likely begin there and is a definite scoring upgrade over Di Giuseppe/Jooris.
Stempniak is also enough of a veteran to play his off side. So I think at some point he could switch with McGinn. Brock might be used more on PK in that situation–and would still be an offensive upgrade on the fourth line. While Stempniak playing with Ryan/Lindholm or, more likely Rask/Williams could find a higher scoring rhythm. His 51 points two seasons ago were mostly due to assists, so having two capable scorers on his line could be a big plus.
Before the season, I (and the consensus here at C&C) stated that the organization needed to protect Stempniak in the expansion draft. I believed he was a key component of making the playoffs. That is still the case.
katrii–as far as rust, that might not be such an issue at midseason. The shortcomings in game experience could be offset by not being worn down. Given the silence of the fourth line lately on the scoresheet, it is a trade-off worth making.
I would have rather seen Wallmark to take a roster spot.
I too am a Wallmark fan. However, I think part of it was not wanting Charlotte to fall in the standings. They have been struggling without Wallmark. Getting all the prospects in Charlotte some playoff experience is quite important to the overall organization. I think in Raleigh Wallmark’s upside is mostly offset by Stempniak’s known level of play.
Allrighty then 😀 Let’s see what Lee can do. Rhymes: we are gonna see some Lee.
I can’t believe “A MAJOR LEAGUE TEAM” would worry about bringing up help from the minors WHEN THEY NEED IT?
Are you kidding? Where are the priorities?
Yes, this team needs HELP (lots of help), but it’s clear that until the new owner takes charge…don’t expect them to spend any money, to accomplish that…so what else can they do? …sit on their hands…PROBABLY! UGH!