On Steven Stamkos …
- Hope Smoke: Bob McKenzie mentioned that the Canadiens could be interested in Steven Stamkos if he became available as they currently have the pieces and the chances of winning.
- Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Pierre LeBrun on TSN 690 on Steven Stamkos.
“ Well, I mean listen. That is an important part to underline in all of this. So many people have made this a Tampa or Toronto decision. What about other teams?
“What if Ken Holland and Detroit, and the way they’ve properly managed their situation, going into a new rink – Steven Stamkos has played just across the border in Sarnia in the OHL – what if Ken Holland made a big offer? I’m not saying he will. Again, like Bob, I’m just putting this out there as theoretical, not as gossip.
“I mean, there are other teams who could step up and make him an offer if he goes to July 1. I think that’s been underplayed in all of this, there’s no question about it.”
- Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Bob McKenzie on TSN 1050 on Stamkos if he becomes a free agent.
“Well, again, I’ll use the needle analogy. If the needle is pointing either towards the Toronto Maple Leafs or let’s call it ‘the field’ – that’s everybody except for Tampa – I would probably say it’s pointing more towards the field than Toronto. But that doesn’t preclude the possibility of Toronto.”
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“But I’ve got to be honest with you. If I were Steven Stamkos – so I’ll put my sensibilities on him – I would look at the Montreal Canadiens and say, ‘Wow. There’s a good team. P.K. Subban, a guy I grew up with. Know him real well. That looks like a team that could win and boy, wouldn’t it be fun to play hockey in Montreal.’
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“I mean, what about the Nashville Predators? If Steven Stamkos went to the Nashville Predators with that defense and goaltending and his good buddy James Neal. Could he be a difference-maker there to put somebody over the top?
- James Mirtle of The Globe and Mail: The Calgary Flames looked at Stamkos this past offseason, but it didn’t get very far. The Sabres had talks before the draft about Stamkos with the Lightning which might have involved the second overall pick. Depending on what side you believe, the talks were “either very preliminary or somewhat advanced.” The “advanced” people say that Stamkos blocked the trade because one of the conditions was that he had to sign a contract extension.
