On the Tampa Bay Lightning and Steven Stamkos …
Shaun Starr: Bob McKenzie on TSN 690: “Don’t think the Canadiens are serious players for Stamkos with cap being where it is & paying PK $9 million”
James Duthie: 12 to 15 teams have contacted Steven Stamkos’ camp.
Chris Johnston of Sportsnet: Steven Stamkos can get an eight year extension with the Lightning, or the Lightning could sign him for eight years, and then trade him.
Talk is Stamkos has already started narrowing his list down.
“Never given it a thought so maybe I should think about it,” Yzerman said when asked about the sign-and-trade scenario at the entry draft last weekend. “It’s an interesting idea … well losing him for nothing or losing him for an asset? I’d love to get an asset for him.”
It could be the NHL’s first sign-and-trade.
The Lightning may be interested in a sign-and-trade so that they can get an asset for Stamkos. The acquiring team may want to do this as well as it may lower the cap hit by adding the extra year.
$80 million over seven years is $11.43 million a year. $80 million over eight years is $10 million.
The Canucks, Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Sabres, Red Wings and Bruins are among teams reportedly interested. There will likely be more teams interested.
Joe Smith: As Chris Johnston notes, the Lightning to sign Stamkos to an eight-year deal and trade him before July 1st. The Lightning would get an asset. Stamkos does hold a no-movement clause, so he holds the hammer.
Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Pierre LeBrun on TSN 1040 on how the Wings got back into the Stamkos sweepstakes after trading Datsyuk’s contract, and if LeBrun has any clarity on the Stamkos situation.
“No, I think it’s clear. Obviously Newport and Stamkos are going to spend the week listening to bids and pitches at their Newport offices in Mississauga. And I think there’ll be plenty of them. Detroit, Buffalo, Toronto, potentially Vancouver, Montreal, Boston, and the list goes on. I mean, I think there’s a lot of options there, including Tampa still in there.
“So let’s see how it all plays out. Let’s see – It’s not just about money with Steven Stamkos, if you know the guy. But it is the biggest contract of his life, and I think it behooves him to carefully listen to everything that’s in front of him before making a really intelligent decision, and that’s what he plans to do.”