Leafs acquire winger Stempniak from Blues

TSN.ca Staff
11/24/2008 2:40:29 PM Text Size

The Toronto Maple Leafs aren't waiting for Brian Burke to come in and start making moves, as the club traded defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo and forward Alex Steen to the St. Louis Blues for forward Lee Stempniak on Monday.

Stempniak, 25, has three goals and 13 points in 14 games this season.

In Steen and Colaiacovo, the Leafs parted ways with two former draft picks that didn't live up to their first-round billing.

Colaiacovo, whose career has been limited by numerous injuries, has played in 10 games this season with the Maple Leafs, recording one assist. The blueliner is in his sixth NHL season, having played in 111 career games with 33 points.

The Toronto native was originally drafted 17th overall in the 2001 Entry Draft.

Steen, 24, has two goals and four points in 20 games this season. He's in his fourth NHL season, playing in 253 games and amassing 126 points. The Winnipeg native - son of former NHLer Thomas Steen - was originally drafted by Toronto in the first round, 24th overall in the 2002 Entry Draft.

The move comes as the Leafs are reportedly in the process of negotiating with Burke about becoming the team's new general manager.

Under current GM Cliff Fletcher, the Leafs have cut ties with 11 regulars from last year's team.

Well, Carlo never lived up to his billing. He is made of glass and won't be much of a loss to the leafs. Steen, I am not sure about. Another 1st rounder not meeting expectations. I was never a big fan.

Stempniak was a former Buffalo Stars Jr.A. player (1999-2000) before going to Dartmouth.

Was that Buffalo team in the OHA at that time?

Just curious.

I recall Stempniak on Buffalo back when they were called the Lightining. I recall overhearing NCAA scouts raving about him at a game.

That got me thinking of the recent West Division players I have seen in the past few years now playing in the NHL-

- Dan Carcillo, Sam Gagner, Darren Haydar, Raitias Ivanans, Richard Peverley (Milton)
- Mike Camalleri, Mike Weaver, Steve Eminger, Adam Hall(Bramalea)
- Lee Stempniak (Buffalo)
- Stanislav Chistov (Georgetown)
- Kris Newbury (Brampton)

I'm sure there are several more I can't recall off the top of my head.

Hey Sniper,

You & Wexdog are correct... Stempniak played for Buffalo during its Lightning era. Lee then went on to enjoy a nice college career at Dartmouth before turning pro.

Brian Gionta may have graduated too soon for your list, but I thought I'd add his name to the list just in case.

The Buffalo Stars never played in the OPJHL, they play in the Empire Junior League, a US league.

The Buffalo Jr Sabres were known as the Buffalo Lightning from 1998-2005.











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WEXDOG is a Cowboys Fan ! 7-4 Looking better
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Jay Stempniak played for Buffalo Lightning 2001-2005.

Not saying Lee did not play for Buffalo in the OP, but I can find no evidence that he did.











Support Our Troops !


Go Leafs(but not too well, we want the #1 pick) !
Go Jays !
Go Raptors !
Go Argos !
Go TFC !


WEXDOG is a Cowboys Fan ! 7-4 Looking better
09,11,01
Lest We Forget
11,11,11

Lee Stepaniak played for the Buffalo Lightning (1999-2000) of the OPJHL before he went to Dartmouth and then onto the St. Louis Blues.

Lee Stempniak was with the Buffalo Lightning for their third season in the OPJHL in 2000-01. That was Buffalo's best regular season during their time in the OP as they finished fourth and just six points out of first place. If my memory serves me right they had a very entertaining playoff series with Mississauga that year.

That year, as an 18-year-old, Stempniak finished third in West scoring with 34 goals and 51 assists for 85 points.

Its amazing isn't it?

48 hours ago, 99.9% of Leaf fans had no idea who Lee Stempniak was.

Now, today at my office, I ran into three guys (Leaf fans) in the lunch room speaking as if they've known him forever.

What a market.