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Stamkos Decision Understandable, Disappointing For Leafs

June 30, 2016, 12:22 PM ET [745 Comments]
Mike Augello
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The dream of Steven Stamkos donning a Toronto Maple Leafs sweater next season ended less than 48 hours before the superstar was eligible to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent. The Markham, ON native signed a heavily bonus laden eight-year, $68 Million deal with the Lightning ($8.5 Million AA) to remain in Tampa with the club that drafted him first overall in 2008.

ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that the Leafs were one of four NHL teams that made pitches to Stamkos and Newport Sports this week and that Team President Brendan Shanahan went all out to get the 26-year-old superstar to come home, including bringing Toronto mayor John Tory and Canadian Tire CEO Michael Medline into the meeting.

Although it is unlikely that we will know the specifics of the Leafs offer, it is likely that Toronto was prepared to make Stamkos the highest-paid player in the NHL (exceeding the $10.5 Million salary of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane). The presence of Medline hints at a potential endorsement deal with Canadian Tire subsidiary SportChek, which according to Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun, would have reaped Stamkos millions of additional dollars annually.

In the end, in spite of the enticing offers, the choice to remain with Tampa is an understandable one for Stamkos.

The Lightning have a three or four-year window as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender with a core group of Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, Alex Killorn, Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Jonathan Drouin and the lack of state income taxes in Florida gives them an advantage over teams with burdensome provincial tariffs in Canada or in other US states.

From the Toronto perspective, the inability to draw Stamkos away from Tampa Bay is disappointing since the addition of a legitimate superstar would have accelerated their return to respectability and taken a bit of pressure and attention off of Matthews, but a return to the Lightning is much more acceptable than the Leafs being spurned in favor of a rebuilding Buffalo Sabres, the Montreal Canadiens or the transitioning Detroit Red Wings.

Some hockey observers believe that Toronto dodged a bullet by not getting Stamkos, that he would not be worth the top salary in the NHL or that injury question marks posed too great of a risk to his future effectiveness, but he is not 31 and likely to be a liability on the ice in two seasons. Stamkos is 26 and keeps himself in remarkable physical shape, which means that could maintain his current level of play into his 30's.

The Leafs rebuild has not been irreparably harmed, they have young potential stars in William Nylander, Mitch Marner and first overall pick Auston Matthews and cap flexibility that will enable them to be able to take advantage of other situations that come up.

Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello is unlikely to be in the bidding for the second level of free agents (David Backes, Milan Lucic, Eric Staal) that will hit the market on July 1, but will look for younger UFA’s who could fit in the club’s plan down the road and/or short-term veteran signings that can be flipped for assets at the trade deadline.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today the roster for the hockey club’s development camp, which will take place from July 4-9 in Toronto and Niagara Falls, Ontario.

A total of 41 players have been invited, including 24 forwards, 12 defencemen and five goalies, and 23 Toronto draft picks from four different draft classes. This year’s development camp roster includes:




Free Agent invitees include:

Stephen Baylis - F - Bowling Green(NCAA)
Anthony Brodeur - G - Penticton(BCHL)
Shane Conacher - F - Canisius(NCAA)
Tye Felhaber - F - Saginaw(OHL)
Jon Jutzi - D - Minnesota State (NCAA)
Nikita Lisov - D - Valdivostok(KHL)
Alan Lyszczarczyk - F - Sudbury(OHL)
Mason Marchment - F - Mississauga(OHL)
Trevor Moore - F - Denver(NCAA)
Jordan Murray - D - New Brunswick(CIS)
Chris Neil - G - Bowling Green (NCAA)
David Ovsjannikov - G - Barrie(OHL)
Brandon Saigeon - F - Hamilton(OHL)
Ty Stanton - D - Medicine Hat(WHL)
Chase Witala - F - Prince George(WHL)
Tyler Wong - F - Lethbridge(WHL)


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