In a time when top unrestricted free agents rarely hit the open market, Steven Stamkos appears to be changing that. He was arguably the top pending UFA before the season started, and is definitely the top pending UFA after it.
The 26-year old Stamkos finished season 24th in scoring with 64 points in 77 – a down year by his standards.
In 569 career games, Stamkos has scored 312 goals, with 250 assists for 562 points.
The Lightning continue to say they’d like to re-sign him, he continues to say he’d like to re-sign, but you have to think the closer it gets to the start of free agency, the more likely he is to test the market.
Rumors of him signing with his hometown Maple Leafs will be around until day he signs his next contract. If he reaches July 1st, expect many teams to be interested, even if it’s in the $10 million per year range. There is the chance that his recent blood clot issue may scare some teams off, but it’s safe bet he’ll have plenty of suitors.