On Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning …
- Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: Steven Stamkos didn’t realize he hit the “like” button on a tweet from TSN that was asking if the Toronto Maple Leafs should make a run at the center if he becomes a free agent. He later unliked the tweet.
“It was accidental,” Stamkos told the Tampa Bay Times.
It was the third time in the past two years that he accidentally “liked” a tweet that linked him to returning to Toronto.
- Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Pierre LeBrun on TSN 1150 on Steven Stamkos, the Lighting and the Maple Leafs.
“No, I mean listen. It’s all part of what’s happening. If he definitely had wanted – if he had made up his mind, he would have signed by now. But clearly he has not, and that has to weigh on him. There’s no question.
“I do think it’s funny though, that everyone is making it Tampa or Toronto. Wouldn’t it be hilarious if he signed somewhere else (laughs)? You never hear anyone mention the third possibility. I’m almost cheering for that at this point.”
On if the Maple Leafs should wait to sign him in the offseason or try to trade for him.
“The reason I asked you that is it would be absolutely idiotic to trade for him. You know he’s going to be UFA July 1. Why would you give up any assets for him, right? So if you’re the Leafs and you do think you should sign him – and we don’t know that for sure, but it would certainly make sense for a rebuilding team to bring back a hometown star if they could – but you do not want to give up assets. The Leafs are not in the business right now of affording the luxury of giving up any assets for anyone, in terms of young assets.
On if the Lightning should trade him.
“I don’t think Tampa has any intention of trading him. The only focus from Steve Yzerman is trying to sign him and that’s the only thing that really Steve Yzerman has said since the onset. And if you know Steve Yzerman, you know he’s a man of his word.
“So I don’t think there’s any – any – intention of trading him. He will try until the eleventh hour to sign him.”
- Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Bob McKenzie on TSN 690 on the suggestion that a team like the Maple Leafs could sign Steven Stamkos to a less than max deal, then have a corporate partner kick in more money.
“Probably not. I mean, Steven Stamkos right now is one of the most marketable hockey players in the world and he’s already got massive deals in Canada on every level. He’s already getting all of that from sponsors by not being a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“So I don’t think that’s going to be the defining thing that would say, ‘Oh, I can get 16 or $18 million and circumvent it.’