TORONTO - Even though Cliff Fletcher's days as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs appear numbered, he continues to shake up the team's roster.
The Leafs acquired forward Lee Stempniak from the St. Louis Blues on Monday in exchange for defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo and forward Alex Steen.
Colaiacovo and Steen are former first-round draft picks who failed to meet expectations in Toronto. They were each pegged to be longtime stalwarts with the Maple Leafs but won't be around to see the results of the organization's latest rebuilding efforts.
The addition of Stempniak should help the team offensively. He has 13 points (3-10) in 14 games this season and scored 27 goals for the Blues in 2006-07.
The move comes as the Leafs are reportedly in the process of negotiating with Brian Burke about becoming the team's new general manager.
Under Fletcher, the Leafs have changed considerably. He was hired to replace John Ferguson Jr. on an interim basis in January and has since been responsible for cutting ties with 11 regulars. On top of that, former captain Mats Sundin remains unsigned.
Colaiacovo was drafted 17th overall in 2001 and has been plagued by injuries in his career. Perhaps fittingly, the 25-year-old missed what would have been his final game as a Leaf on Saturday with a foot injury.
Steen has recorded two goals and two assists in his first 20 games this season. The 24th overall pick in 2002 was used largely in a checking and penalty killing role under coach Ron Wilson this season.
The Maple Leafs have just two wins in their last nine games and sit 10th in the Eastern Conference.
