stempniak joined the boston bruins during the start of training camp, signing a professional tryout (pto) contract on september 10, 2018. stempniak began the 2018–19 without a contract, however continued to train with the bruins at times throughout the first months of the season. while continuing informally with the team, stempniak belatedly signed a professional try-out contract in the ahl to join affiliate, the providence bruins, on february 15, 2019. after 4 games with providence, and ahead of the nhl trade deadline, stempniak signed a one-year, one-way contract with boston on february 24, 2019.