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Andreychuk: Stamkos Staying In The Bay |
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Dave Andreychuk says that he is "confident" Steven Stamkos will stay with the Tampa Lightning rather than signing a lucrative,, multi-year UFA contract with another NHL team on July 1.
“Steven is going to come back. He’s going to be fine,” Andreychuk told Sportsnet 590 The Fan's Hockey Central @ Noon on Wednesday.
“I still believe that Steve Yzerman is trying whatever he can do to sign Steven Stamkos, and I believe it will happen.”
Andreychuk, Tampa Lightning legend and 2004 Stanley Cup championship hero, is now vice president of corporate & community affairs for the Bolts. Andreychuk played 23 seasons in the NHL.
It's imporant to note that Andreychuk is not a member of Yzerman's hockey operations inner sanctim. He is not a scout nor a manager. He is not privee to proprietary information. Stwve Yzerman is a noted control freak when it comes to controlling his message. Stevie Y. Does not kiss and tell. He is a master at saying nothing. Andreychuk works outside of the hockey department and helps to facilitate, create and foster relationships between the Tampa Bay Lightning brand and the community.
I respect that Andreychuk is saying positive things about Stamkos staying put in Tampa. He sees things through blue colored glasses. I get it. However, Andreychuk is speaking merely as an observer and goodwill ambassador for the team in the community.
Stamkos is great for Tampa's Q-rating. The Bolts are a more valuable brand with Stamkos on their roster. Like most Lightning fans, Andreychuk is looking for a happy ending to this difficult situation with the face of their franchise.
Stamkos is this summer's version of Mike Babcock.
He is leaving his long time organization for greener pastures and whiter ice.
To know Andreychuk is to know that he's a positive guy who sees the glass as half full. I love his optimism and enthusiasm regarding Stamkos, however, I think Big Dave is trying to sell some sunshine of an otherwise cloudy subject as it pertains to Stamkos' future in the city by the bay.
I hate to break it to you, Andy, but Stamkos is leaving Tampa. If he were staying, Steve Yzerman would have signed him to an 8 year, $80 million contract extension before July 1, 2015. That's when Stamkos' no movement clause kicked in.
How can Stamkos re-sign with Tampa when Yzerman is already hand wringing about how he is going to get new contracts done with Victor Hedman, Ben Bishop, Nikita Kucherov, Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn, and Jonathan Drouin. All of these key cogs will be coming due in the summers of 2016 and 2017.
I'm sure that Andreychuk has seen how well the Bolts have played without Stamkos in the Detroit and Brooklyn series.
Yzerman will use the $80 million in cost savings from a Stamkos contract extension and spread the wealth to Hedman, Bishop, Kucherov, Palat, Johnson, Killorn and Drouin.
Andreychuk's former team, the Buffalo Sabres, are closing in on pouncing on Stamkos. Andreychuk will be able to keep tabs on Stammer if/when he lands in Buffalo, a division rival of Tampa.
PS- Does Bob Barker know that Nick Kypreos "borrowed" his powder blue smoking jacket?
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Dallas Stars head coach Lindy Ruff needs to spend less time getting pissed off at St. Louis Blues bad boy Ryan Reaves for blowing a kiss to the Dallas Stars' bench on Tuesday night and start learning how to manage his goaltenders. Ruff is a great coach, however, he has struggled with goalie management since the Dominik Hasek days in Buffalo in 1996.
The Stars were getting slapped by the Blues on Tuesday night. St. Louis would go on to win 6-1.
Stars captain Jamie Benn tried to send a message when was rung up for cross-checking Alex Pietrangelo. Stars D Stephen Johns‘ hit from behind on Pietrangelo set off fireworks. Reaves was not amused.
"Our guys were embarrassed last night, and that's stuff you take to heart. That's stuff you use."
Forget about Reaves.
Fix your goaltending, Lindy.
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