- Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Bay Tribune: The Lightning are able to extend Steven Stamkos after July 1st. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent after next season. There will be plenty of speculation/dreaming in Toronto on if he would sign with the Maple Leafs if he hits the open market. Stamkos was asked recently when the Leafs were in town about playing in a big market compared to a small market.
“I think if you are in a situation where you have a good team that is winning and you have the fan support, it’s tough to beat a place like (Tampa),” Stamkos said. “Sometimes it’s nice to go into those big cities and feel the buzz, but for the most part you still have that buzz here, too, especially when you are winning. This town rallies around us and the couple of times we’ve been in the playoffs have been a lot of fun. I know guys who have come from other organizations can’t compliment the treatment we get down here enough.
“I love being here and I love winning.”
- Dhiren Mahiban of Pro Hockey Talk: Elliotte Friedman on Senators Andrew Hammond.
“He’s a restricted free agent after this season. He’s a great story. You just check. Are they talking at all to extend him? The answer is no. They don’t want to pollute, was the word I heard, everything that’s going on right now. Don’t bring contract talks into it. They’ll wait until after the season.”
- Nichols on Hockey: Bob McKenzie on TSN 1260 radio on Blues pending RFA Vladimir Tarasenko.
“Yeah, well – if they’re going to sign him he’s going to want a multi-year deal in the six, seven, eight years, whatever, at north of $6 million a year. There’s no question. Between 6 and 7.
“And you know what? I think the Blues are fine with that, as long as the consistency of production is there. As long as they’re convinced what they’re seeing isn’t a one-off. That this isn’t just a lucky season where his shooting percentage is high and he got some breaks.
