On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
- Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: Steven Stamkos on the approaching trade deadline.
“The trade deadline is coming up in a couple weeks, I’m sure everyone will have some answers in a couple weeks when that comes,” Stamkos said Thursday. “We’ve kept everything to ourselves, and I know it (stinks) for you guys (media). But I think you can appreciate the way we’ve conducted doing business and whatever happens in the next couple weeks, there’s obviously going to be some answers.”
“There’s no use in me speculating and saying things that someone can twist,” he said.
There has been no indication from the Lightning if they have, or will ask Stamkos if he’d waive his no-movement clause. It appears that he’ll likely remain with the team through the end of the season.
Stamkos on what if the Lightning did ask him to waive his NMC.
“I haven’t even thought about that,” said Stamkos, who turned 26 on Sunday. “I think the answer is, ‘We’ll cross that bridge at the time,’ and I don’t think it’s that time now.”
- Frank Seravalli of TSN: Steven Stamkos on contract talks.
“There’s no use in me speculating and saying things that someone can twist,” Stamkos explained. “We’ve had open lines of communication. There are ongoing talks. Really, that’s been it. There hasn’t been anything that we’re going to say that’s going to blow everyone out of the water. We’ve done it that way, shown a lot of respect towards each other.
“Obviously, I know the deadline is coming up, but we’ll continue to talk.”
- Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: The Lightning learned yesterday that defenseman Jason Garrison will be out three to five weeks with a lower-body injury. Garrison injury could force Lightning GM Steve Yzerman to look at adding a defenseman before the trade deadline.
