Rumor: Lee Stempniak to Los Angeles Kings

lee stempniak nhl trade deadline rumors

The New Jersey Devils are listening to offers for Lee Stempniak as the 2016 NHL trade deadline approaches. Stempniak's one year $850,000 deal is about to expire and he'll become an unrestricted free agent.

The 33 year old winger is having a productive season with 16 goals and 25 assists in 63 games this season. Via the Toronto Sun:

Every year, it is the same. The trade deadline approaches and Lee Stempniak mentally packs his bags and waits for the phone call that will tell him where he’ll be moving next. It’s not that he’s Chicken Little worried that the sky is falling. He’s just realistic. 
Stempniak, an 11-year veteran for the New Jersey Devils, has played for eight different teams. He’s been traded four times, including at each of the last two deadlines. He might not be at the level of Mike “Suitcase” Sillinger, who was traded a record nine times, but he’s already got more jerseys than there are days of the week. 
“Change is not always bad,” said Stempniak, a pending unrestricted free agent who leads the New Jersey Devils with 41 points in 62 games. “I’ve been through it before three times. I’ve always sort of prepared for it.” 
Two years ago, Stempniak was traded from the Calgary Flames to the Pittsburgh Penguins days after his wife gave birth to twin girls. A year later, he missed their first birthday when he was traded from the New York Rangers to the Winnipeg Jets.

The LA Kings are in trade talks with the New Jersey Devils. The Devils want a second round draft pick in return for Lee Stempniak.

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