After 13 seasons in the NHL, and more than 900 games, forward Lee Stempniak is hanging up the skates.
“I am honoured and privileged to have played in the NHL for 13 seasons and I am extremely grateful to have lived my dream every day throughout my career, said Stempniak, via news release. "I would like to thank each and every organization, all of my coaches and the staff members for your help over the years. A special thank you to all of my teammates. I will miss our friendships, laughter and camaraderie.
Stempniak began his NHL career by spending nearly four seasons with the Blues. After he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2008-09 campaign, Stempniak would play there until a move to the Phoenix Coyotes (now Arizona) at the 2010 trade deadline. After playing in all 82 games the next season in the desert, Stempniak joined his fourth NHL team when the Calgary Flames acquired him via trade late in the 2011 offseason. Following nearly three seasons in Calgary, Stempniak was moved to the Pittsburgh Penguins in another deadline-day trade. He was then signed in the offseason by the New York Rangers as a free agent before he was traded to the playoff-bound Winnipeg Jets shortly prior to the trade deadline. He suited up in all four postseason games and scored the first Stanley Cup Playoffs goal in Winnipeg since 1996.
Representing his eighth NHL team, Stempniak played 63 games while scoring 41 points with the New Jersey Devils after signing as a free agent less than a week before the season began. He was traded at the 2016 trade deadline to the Boston Bruins, with whom he would play the final 19 games of the season while his combined point total (51) for the season surpassed the 50-point mark for the second time in his career. Stempniak then signed a two-year contract as a free agent July 1, 2016 with the Carolina Hurricanes, where he played all 82 games to reach the 40-point mark for the fifth time in his career. His second season with the club was cut short to 37 games as he battled various injuries.
In 2017-18, Stempniak reached 900 regular-season NHL games played in the Hurricanes' 4-3 victory, March 18, 2018 over the New York Islanders while also scoring an unassisted goal. The tally stood as the 203rd and final goal of his NHL career. He returned to the Bruins and played two games with the team in 20182-2019, as well as 20 games in Providence.
In 911 NHL games, Stempniak has 203 goals and 469 points.
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