The 6-foot-2, 203-pound forward brings a hard-working determination and defensive-minded approach to his game, the style of play teams consistently want to add to their lineup.

The well-traveled Winnik provides stability for any team in which he finds a home.

The well-traveled Winnik provides stability for any team in which he finds a home.

The 6-foot-2, 203-pound forward brings a hard-working determination and defensive-minded approach to his game, the style of play teams consistently want to add to their lineup.

Winnik was selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in the ninth round (No. 265) in the 2004 NHL Draft following his freshman year at the University of New Hampshire. As a sophomore, Winnik saw his production take a dramatic jump, improving from four goals and 14 points to 18 goals and 40 points as he earned All-Tournament honors at the Northeast Regional in the NCAA postseason. As a junior, he was named a Hockey East Second-Team All-Star, finishing fifth in scoring in Hockey East with 41 points.

Winnik left New Hampshire to turn pro and had a seven-game stint with San Antonio in the American Hockey League in 2005-06 before a full season in 2006-07.

In 2007-08, Winnik earned a full-time spot out of camp with the Coyotes, where he played 202 games over three seasons before he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche on June 28, 2010. After a season-plus with the Avalanche, Winnik was traded to the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 27, 2012, and he finished the 82-game regular season with 84 games played as a result of the trade.

A free agent, Winnik signed a two-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks in the summer of 2012 and was part of two Pacific Division championships, but two years later he left to sign a free agent contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the trade deadline on Feb. 25, 2015, and played the final 21 games of the 2014-15 season before returning to the Maple Leafs as a free agent that summer.

He signed a two-year contract, but with teams looking for help at the trade deadline, the Maple Leafs traded him to the Washington Capitals on Feb. 28, 2016.

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