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The smoke is starting to settle on the draft and UFA Day is coming at us like a bullet train...Tomorrow I begin hitting rumors of July 1 team by team...
For one last blog tonight...
Three Big Rumors That Everyone on The Inside is Talking About..
#3. Is Luongo REALLY a "Lifer" in Vancouver, or is a deal Florida really possible?
I talked to people I really, really trust about this, and all the talk of Luongo possibly finding his way back to Florida is not only POSSIBLE, but following this season one source believes:
"Unless Roberto tears it up this year the most likely scenario in the entire NHL for next summer would be a Luongo trade to Florida."
After this year Luongo's un-tradeable contract which so many have spoken about may just be the EXACT kind of contract a team like Florida needs to sign. A contract where the actual number diminishes significantly year after year, but the cap hit remains constant. Add to this rumor the fact Luongo also really enjoyed his time in Florida and his wife is from there.
I could completely see it happening in another year...
One source put it this way...
"Before the off-season, even at the trade deadline, the belief was Vokoun was going to be a signing a long-term extension in Florida...the Panthers were so convinced he would return they even floated the idea of trading Vokoun by him with the possibility of him moving, bringing a return to help Florida, and then returning to Florida...However, now we are hearing Vokoun may only be signing a short contract in Florida, and actually is more likely to head to Phoenix."
Could Luongo be moved now? I really don't think so. He was very good for the Canucks in the playoffs up until the final round...I mean the Canucks aren't the Blackhawks...
#2. What Suddenly Changed in Philly?
A week ago I talked to people with the Flyers who were very excited about the Flyers signing Bryzgalov and who, due to the large rumored jump in the cap, told me they could get Ilya in without losing Carter. (Richards was impossible to even ponder)
I kept hearing the Flyers would either move, and/or bury in the minors Carle, Versteeg, and not bring back Carcillo.
A rumor came out early in the week that Carter was headed to Columbus and it was put to rest quickly as "A last resort scenario we needed to check out."
The suddenly, 48 hours later, the Carter deal happened and minutes later the face of the franchise, Mike Richards was gone. Then Ilya 's contract was announced and the cap hit is very manageable.
So why did the Flyers feel the need to blow it up? Was it really to get faster and bigger?
I honestly believe the Flyers moving Carter and Richards had to do more with something bigger...Like suddenly the Flyers saw a lane opening up to either Brad Richards or Stamkos.
Ed Snider has said the team in done making big moves this summer...however I have asked Ed and others enough times, "So you said you were done last week and now suddenly this blockbuster" to know the answer by heart.
"We weren't expecting anything like this and we simply couldn't turn away this kind of an opportunity to improve our team."
#1. Does Stamkos Really Want To Sign With The Tampa Bay Lightning?
Remember the beginning of last season? Right up until early January, Stamkos was the best player in hockey...Netting goal after goal and causing us to ponder his place in the Upper Echelon of the NHL..
I am told by a few source, everything changed in mid January.
"Three weeks into the new year agents for Steven Stamkos flew down to Tampa to get a deal done. They presented Steve Yzerman and crew with a very strong proposal/demonstration regarding how they would like to go about keeping Stammer in Tampa. After the meeting the agents left Florida quickly, upset, and feeling insulted about where the team was in terms of Stamkos future."
And however you want to slice it, Stamkos went from scoring 10-15 goals a month to scoring 2-3 goals a month...My source continued...
"It wasn't until late in the playoffs that Stamkos got his game back. What many on the inside were feeling...and this summer have been questioning...is Does Stamkos really want to play in Tampa? And also...Is Tampa willing (and even able) to put the kind of contract Stamkos needs (and deserves) on the table?
Please understand. Stamkos' character is truly tops in the game. There is no way he would pull a Heatley or even ever say anything other than "I want to be on the Lightning."
But the money is very real. No one has scored more goals in the past 200 games than Stamkos. No one. And according to solid sources, Tampa, with their very low ticket prices, and even though they progressed to the Conference Final, lost over $20Million...(some say over $25M).
I have always supported this team. I believe in many of the cool new promotions this team puts together...I believe in the area. It's quite a hip, young town..
I am just not certain they would be making the right decision paying somewhere in the 8.5-9 per range. Tampa did this before...giving Vinny, Marty, and Brad the money. And falling backwards fast.
We will see....this week...we will know. Good night. Talk to you all in the morning with a complete Rumor Chart Update and Team by Team rumors following the draft shakedown.
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