There is no shortage of opinions regarding what will happen with Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos.
Some believe that there is a chance that GM Steve Yzerman will ask the pending unrestricted free agent to waive his no movement clause and accept a trade before February 29th, others think that he will stay in Tampa through the end of the season and test the free agent market in July.
TSN’s Bob McKenzie stated on Thursday that the Buffalo Sabres would be an option for Stamkos, since it will put him close to his family in the GTA and because Buffalo is further along in their rebuild and have young talents Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart and Ramsus Ristolainen already in the fold.
Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos thinks that the Markham, ON wants to play in a big market and preferably in Canada, but that the Vancouver Canucks with $16 Million in available cap space next year or the Montreal Canadiens with Carey Price and childhood friend PK Subban are better positioned.
Fellow insider Darren Dreger does not rule out the possibility of Stamkos coming to Toronto to be the highest paid player in the NHL, but thinks the chances are remote based on the pressure he would be under in the center of hockey media and from the fan base and the Toronto media.
In Sunday’s New York Post,
columnist Larry Brooks believes that Stamkos will not sign with the Maple Leafs because of where they are situated in their rebuild and because it doesn’t match up with the plans of Leafs team president Brendan Shanahan and GM Lou Lamoriello.
There could be factors that change the focus of the Leafs leading up to July 1, but it is hard to imagine anything that would sway them from trying to add a star player in the prime of his career like Stamkos, who could be a positive influence and a contributor when their prospects come of age.
That is an opportunity that comes along once in a generation.
Brooks believes that there is a greater likelihood that Toronto could be a landing spot for another GTA native who wears #91, John Tavares of the New York Islanders.
The Mississauga, ON native is eligible to become a free agent in the summer of 2018 and might be a prime target to returning home after being paid below market value on his current six-year deal ($5.5 Million AAV) and dealing with a franchise going through transitions in ownership and a move from Long Island and Brooklyn.
It cannot be underemphasized that Toronto management will be under some pressure from their media ownership group to improve the club after a season where viewership on Sportsnet’s weekend hockey coverage is down significantly.
“Leaf ratings on Saturday nights are down 20 per cent and overall Saturday night is down 15 to 20 per cent.”
Sportsnet president Scott Moore said to Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star last month. “If the Leafs were winning, their ratings would be up 20 per cent. If they were clearly a playoff team, it would be 30 or 40 per cent. They’re going to be .500 or better next season, and hopefully we’ll see some increase in the ratings.”
Head coach Mike Babcock has been able to get a lot out of the Leafs this season in spite of a lack of talent, but if they are to be competitive and entertaining while assembling a contending club, he will need weapons to work with. It’s hard to imagine what the Leafs coach will be like if he has to go through two more years like this.
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The
Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch says that Lamoriello will be aggressive to make moves in the next two weeks, which could mean getting the jump on other teams and selling his rentals in advance of February 29th.
The Leafs have tried to move winger Joffrey Lupul, but chronic injury problems and two remaining years on his contract have made a deal difficult to consummate.
Daniel Winnik, P.A. Parenteau, Brad Boyes and James Reimer are also players who could be potentially on the move.
The fact that the Leafs did not have to retain salary in the Dion Phaneuf deal may give them a better chance to move Lupul in the next two weeks. The 32-year-old winger makes $5.25 Million until the end of the 2017-18 season and with his lack of durability, it is unlikely that anyone would be interested in him at that price tag. Toronto can retain up to 50% of his salary to make a deal work, which might be a more palatable option than a buyout that would result in a $1.5 Million cap hit until 2020.
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