Steven Stamkos free agent rumors
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Since there are bound to be numerous Steven Stamkos rumors in the next little while, we’re going to create a single entry to get all your Stamkos rumors and news.

July 5th:

2:00 pm:

  • Erik Erlendsson via twitter: “OK people, Stamkos is not being traded, so please stop with the “I heard” or “somebody posted” because there are no trade talks.” Erlendsson adds that he’s sure teams have called and said “If you can’t sign him, we’d like to talk to you” … Those aren’t talks
  • Damian Cristodero via twitter: Lightning GM Steve Yzerman called Stamkos’ contract “a work in progress.” Stamkos’s agent texted: “We’re still working on it.”

9:00 am:

  • Nick Kypreos via twitter: No offer sheet for Stamkos. “Its believed #Lightning have closed in and formal announcement could be looming.” The last offer was a 5 year deal at $37 million, $7.4 million cap hit.
  • Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer: Though it’s highly doubtful, a source has said the Flyers will put together a trade package if the Lightning think they can’t re-signed Stamkos. Stamkos reportedly turned down a 5 year deal worth $37.5 million. It’s likely the Lightning would be interested in Brayden Schenn, Sergei Bobrovsky, others and picks.

July 1st:
11:25 am:

  • Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune: The Lightning will be anxiously awaiting today to see if Stamkos signs an offer sheet with another team.  Yzerman is is prepared to do whatever he can to ensure that Stamkos stays with the Lightning. From Stamkos’s agent last night, “All I can say is that we are still working on it.”

10:00 am:

  • Damian Cristodero of the St. Petersburg Times: Lightning GM Steve Yzerman and Stamkos’s agent spoke yesterday and were expected to talk again last night. Flyers GM Paul Holgren has said he won’t tender an offer sheet. There are rumors that the Maple Leafs might try an offer sheet, but that makes less sense than the Flyers as they are not as close to a Cup run as the Flyers are. Stamkos has said he wants to stay in Tampa, and the Lightning want him to stay. Stamkos doesn’t have to sign an offer sheet if he gets one. It’s likely that he remains in Tampa even if negotiations drag past July 1st.
  • Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun: Brennan thinks the Senators should try to sign Steven Stamkos to an offer sheet. Brennan knows they won’t do this, but thinks they should. Offer a 10 year, $100 million deal or more, something the Lightning will have trouble matching.
  • Sam Carchidi via twitter: Luukko said the Flyers were “never serious” about trying to add Stamkos, and the numbers that were reported were bogus.

June 30th:

  • Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun: Stamkos’s side and the Lightning were to resume talks yesterday, and signs are pointing to him staying. Stamkos has told friends how much he loves playing in Tampa. He considers Martin St. Louis like a big brother. Stamkos has said they are “close” to a deal recently. Yzerman has said they’ll match any offer sheets. There are conflicting reports out of Philly if they’d pursue Stamkos or not. Negotiation issues are based on money and not tenure. Numbers thrown around the internet are between $7-$7.5 million. Those around Tampa think a deal will get done.
  • Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune: The agents of Stamkos and Lightning held talks yesterday and more are scheduled for today. “Nothing new to report, (but) anytime you are talking it’s positive,” Yzerman said.
  • Frank Seravallie of the Philadelphia Daily News: The Flyers continue to debate on whether to go the offer sheet route with Stamkos, as of yesterday they hadn’t. They Flyers appear to be serious about the possibility, as they’ve run it by chairman Ed Snider on Tuesday. Team sources said the offer sheet could be for $115 million over 12 years, a $9.58 million cap hit with a no movement clause to kick in before 2016-17. Yzerman has been given the green light to match any offer sheet, but as one source added, “What else would he say?”

June 29th:

  • Anthony San Filippo via twitter: San Filippo has been told that if the Flyers decide to give Stamkos an offer sheet it would be for $115 million over 12 years with a full no trade clause. San Filippo thinks the Lightning would match. Either the Flyers or Lightning would have to get creative to move out salary for that deal.
  • Damian Cristodero via twitter: Lightning GM Steve Yzerman says that Nick Kypreos’ report that the Lightning offered Stamkos a contract averaging $6.5 million “is not accurate.”
  • Nick Kypreos via twitter: Kypreos raises the question if anyone would sign Stamkos to a 1 year deal worth $12,860,000? The Lightning would have trouble matching it with the contracts of Lecavalier, St. Louis, Malone, Brewer and Ohlund. Stamkos didn’t have 4 years of service so the Lightning couldn’t file “Club Elected Salary Arbitration” like the Predators did with Shea Weber and the Devils did with Zach Parise. If Stamkos doesn’t accept Tampa’s offer with a cap hit of $6.5 million, they’ll have some tough decisions to make. If Stamkos gets an offer sheet it will be for 1 year max offer of a long term deal at a very high salary. The Lightning may not be able to match it due to big contracts of Lecavalier, St. Louis, Malone, Brewer and Ohlund. The Flyers could take a run at him. Are the Lightning better of working out a trade than to take 4 1st rounds in the 20-30 range? Would Claude Giroux and Brayden Schenn be better than the picks? Teams that might put together something are the Canadiens, Red Wings, Bruins, Sabres, Blackhawks, Capitals, Rangers and Maple Leafs.
  • Tim Panaccio via twitter: As of last night teams can contact Stamkos’s agent Don Meehan about an offer sheet. The Flyers hadn’t contacted Meehan as of then.
  • Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune: Tampa Bay qualified Steven Stamkos yesterday giving them the right to match any offer sheet. Negotiations took place over the weekend, and are expected to continue today. “My expectation is I will speak to Don (Meehan),” Yzerman said. “I am still optimistic that we can get something accomplished and I look forward to speaking to him.”
  • Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: If Stamkos remains unsigned, he could indeed receive an offer sheet. The Flyers are internally debating on whether they should try to sign Stamkos to an offer sheet. The Lightning could match any offer, but the pressure is on them to get a deal done by Friday so that they don’t have to deal with offer sheets.
  • Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News: So the Flyers unloaded Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, traded Darroll Powe, signed Andreas Nodl with a slight pay cut, and did not qualify Dan Carcillo. The Flyers have been creating some added cap space. They are negotiating with Ville Leino, Wayne Simmonds and Jakub Voracek. If they stash Michael Leighton in the AHL, the Flyers could have approximately $8.3 million in cap space. Two sources say the Flyers could be interested in Stamkos if he remains unsigned on July 1st. The Lightning reportedly have lost between $20 and $25 million last season. They might have financial limitations and there have been reports that Stamkos may not want to play in Tampa anymore. Tampa has reportedly offered him $7 million a season. If Stamkos gets on offer sheet on Friday, it could be in the $9-10 million range. If the Flyers or Maple Leafs were able to get Stamkos to a big offer sheet, Tampa may not be able to match it as they have the big contracts of Vinny Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis, Ryan Malone and Eric Brewer. If Yzerman feels he can’t get a deal done should they look at trading him for assets that could play next season or take the 4 1st rounds they’d get as compensation from an offer sheet?
  • Dennis Bernstein via twitter: “Stamkos offer sheet chatter ridiculous. Never happening and odds of trade lower than 0%. Shrinking RFA pool makes everyone bored.” If Stamkos was to get an offer sheet, he would have to negotiate with that team, agree to a deal, then sign the sheet.
  • Darren Dreger via twitter: “Offer sheet speculation makes for great debate, but the Lightning will match any sheet on Stamkos and the few teams capable… know that.”

June 28th: