On the Tampa Bay Lightning rumors …
- Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: The Lightning sit 11th in the Eastern Conference and it’s not looking like GM Steve Yzerman will be making a big move anytime soon.
“Don’t sit around holding your breath waiting for us to make this big giant move,” Yzerman said.
Yzerman added that teams are leery of taking on players with term.
“If everybody is sitting around waiting for this big huge deal that’s going to turn things around, those are hard to do,” Yzerman said. “We have a good team that’s been (in) a grind, injuries have been another complication for us. We’ll keep working towards it. We generally like our team, but all I can say is, if something makes sense to make us better, we’ll do it.”
With the salary cap projected to go up by $3 million next year, Yzerman thinks there could be more trades. This years trade deadline is on February 29th. Yzerman said he usually comes up with a plan about six weeks before, so the Lightning are coming up a critical time in their schedule.
“A month or so before the deadline, you’re really starting to assess, “What are we going to do?”‘ Yzerman said. “Are we a playoff contender? Are we for sure a playoff team, or are we not going to make it? Then you determine what direction you go at that point.
“At this stage of the season, we’re around 50 games left, we’re in a dogfight for a playoff spot. We’re trying to win every single night. The trade deadline is a long way off, so I’m not necessarily thinking about that. I’m thinking as far as the trade market goes, is there a way we can improve our team that makes us better today but also makes us better in the long term?”
- Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun: Steven Stamkos back in 2008, five months before he was drafted by the Lightning.
“To be a Leaf would be a dream come true,” said Stamkos, who already had 80 points in just 46 games for the Sting at the time. “I idolized the Leafs growing up. I’ve always been a Leafs fan.
“I’m not going to lie to you. I’ve checked out the NHL standings. I pay attention to where the Leafs sit. I know they’re near the bottom of the standings. The chance of (getting picked by them) definitely is in the back of my mind.”
If Stamkos hits the open market in July, the Maple Leafs won’t be the only team willing to throw big money at him. There were rumors in the offseason that the Sabres may have kicked times on a potential trade.