Archive for Lee Stempniak
Carl Klingberg headed to KHL
Posted by: | CommentsPer Alex Nunn, New York Rangers RFA winger Carl Klingberg will head to Torpedo of the KHL. The Rangers acquired Klingberg at the trade deadline from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for winger Lee Stempniak. The deal cleared Stempniak’s contract in order to land James Sheppard and later that day. Sheppard was supposed to be a better fit for the fourth line, but he never played.
Klingberg, 24, was struggling to crack an NHL roster, so this move isn’t that surprising. People are going to look to this move as “Stempniak was traded for nothing,” which I guess is a fair conclusion. I don’t see it like that though. I wasn’t all that pleased in letting Stempniak go for nothing (would’ve preferred a draft pick), and the injury to Mats Zuccarello showed the Rangers could have used him, but on the surface, Sheppard was a better fit for the fourth line.
The Rangers will retain Klingberg’s NHL rights, depending on the length of the deal in the KHL.
Thoughts following the trade deadline
Posted by: | CommentsThe trade deadline came and went on Monday this season with a flurry of activity and some very big moves. Since I usually will write my articles for Friday, I haven’t really had a chance to weigh in at this point. I know that there has been a couple games in the interim, but since the Rangers don’t play again until Sunday, I’m just going to share my post deadline thoughts anyway…
Rangers trade Lee Stempniak to Winnipeg
Posted by: | CommentsPer Bob McKenzie, the New York Rangers have traded forward Lee Stempniak to the Winnipeg Jets for winger Carl Klingberg. Klingberg has 2 NHL games this season, while Stempniak was a useful bottom line/extra forward. This comes on the heels of the Keith Yandle trade and the rumored Mats Zuccarello extension. One thing’s for sure: Glen Sather is active.
NYR bottom six forwards mid-season report card
Posted by: | CommentsContinuing on with the mid-season report card, this is my take on the Rangers bottom six forwards. Dave covered the goaltending and coaches and Chris wrote about the top-six forwards previously, so be sure to check them out.
(ALL STATS ARE 5v5 UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE)
- GP: 43
- TOI/Gm: 12.7
- CF/60: 51.3 (8 fwd)
- CA/60: 49.2 (2 fwd)
- RelCF%: 2.0 (4 fwd)
- P/60: 1.4 (10 fwd)
- SHCF%: 11.0 (TOI/Gm – 2.1)
Hagelin’s speed keeps opposing teams honest. He’s been very reliable defensively, a dangerous part of the penalty kill and has big playmaking potential 5v5 on the offensive side of things. Keep your eye on his name in trade rumors. He’s a free agent at the end of the year and with cap space tight after Marc Staal’s extension he could be a cap casualty. Hagelin has been a big part of the bottom six and will continue to be moving into the 2nd half of the season.
GRADE: B
Stempniak isolated for team, tested for mumps
Posted by: | CommentsPer the Rangers Twitter, winger Lee Stempniak is being isolated from the team and being tested for the mumps. Stempniak would be the third Rangers player to contract the mumps, following Tanner Glass and Derick Brassard. Glass has been healthy for a few weeks, and Brassard was cleared to practice with the team tomorrow.
Also, Joey Crabb in Hartford is being isolated from the Wolf Pack and being tested for the mumps. Ken Gernander, head coach of the Pack, is being isolated as well.
Pleasant surprises dotted through Rangers’ early struggles
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Lee Stempniak has been the best Ranger to start the season
Three losses in four games and 12 goals against in the first two home contests certainly isn’t how the Rangers wanted to start the season, but it’s not altogether unexpected. With No. 1 center Derek Stepan and No. 4 D Dan Boyle on the shelf, and a slew of raw youngsters in the lineup, it’s no surprise that the Blueshirts have been a dumpster fire in their own end. There are certainly very real causes for concern, but there is plenty of time to right the ship – just take a look back at how last season started.
So since it’s all gloom and doom in Ranger-land this morning, let’s check out some of the things that are going right for New York, many of which have come as pleasant surprises:
– Rick Nash has six goals in four games. That’s a pretty decent start, by any measure. The #fancystats crowd insisted Nash would bounce back after a horribly unlucky postseason, but this offensive explosion has eclipsed anyone’s wildest dreams. This confidence boost will be huge for Nash after he was forced to take a long look in the mirror last spring, and it could be the start of a monster year.
How Lee Stempniak will affect his teammates
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Photo by Gregory Shamus/NHLI via Getty Images
When the Rangers signed Lee Stempniak to a one-year deal worth $900,000, many applauded Glen Sather. He found another low-risk, high-reward player that could potentially replace Benoit Pouliot on the third line. In all honesty, they are pretty identical players from a #fancystats point of view. But of course, numbers don’t tell the whole story.
One of the best parts about Stempniak’s signing is that he’s a right-handed shot. Based on that alone he helps the left-handed heavy Rangers be a bit more balanced on the wings, and potentially on the powerplay. He’s a strong possession forward who plays a solid, if unspectacular, two-way game. He also saw some significant time on the penalty kill with the Flames/Penguins last season. so he presents even more flexibility on special teams.
But one of the bigger questions is about how he will affect his teammates on the ice.
Dreger: Rangers closing in on Lee Stempniak
Posted by: | CommentsPer Darren Dreger, the Rangers are closing in on a deal with free agent winger Lee Stempniak on a one-year deal. The Rangers struck gold with Benoit Pouliot last season, and are looking to do so again with this signing. Stempniak and Pouliot had similar offensive output and #fancystats are comparable, so this seems like a decent fit for the Rangers. Oh, and he’s a right-handed shot, which is super.