He's only 25?

I was surprised to see he was still that young, I myself thought he was older.

Depends on what we would be giving up of course to acquire him.

At 25, i'd love to have him.
- BuffaloHardHat

I think what might be most attractive about him is that if we purchased him we would then be able to turn around and spin an attractive asset (probably Reinhart) for a valuable return. After all, we couldn't afford to pay all of these guys. That said, there is in way I'd pay him 11 mill.

I'd probably stay the course.

goaltender here:

yes having 90 mph shots stick to you is difficult to say the least...but others have figured out how to do it (i never did)

he looks calm and collected which is good but rebound control can be his one chink in the armor methinks (for a career backup not tooooooo bad (i'll take it))

the already peaked part was a joke

I'd love to have him as a sabre, hate to see him leave the bolts though
- homiedclown

I figured as much hc.

Wouldn't hurt my feelings if he left the Bolts to come here.

I think what might be most attractive about him is that if we purchased him we would then be able to turn around and spin an attractive asset (probably Reinhart) for a valuable return. After all, we couldn't afford to pay all of these guys. That said, there is in way I'd pay him 11 mill.

I'd probably stay the course.
- Slump Buster

Anyone but Reinhart, O'Reilly and Ristolainen for me.

Trade anyone else and I wouldn't care.

the already peaked part was a joke

I'd love to have him as a sabre, hate to see him leave the bolts though
- homiedclown

I peeked when I was a kid.

One night when I was older, I actually watched.

Anyone but Reinhart, O'Reilly and Ristolainen for me.

Trade anyone else and I wouldn't care.
- BuffaloHardHat

You'd trade Eichel for a UFA to be? I mean even if you disliked him, that's just horrid asset management.

the already peaked part was a joke

I'd love to have him as a sabre, hate to see him leave the bolts though
- homiedclown

Buffalo checks off a lot of the boxes that Stamkos could be looking for in a team

Except for the most important one, it's not Toronto. It's why I wouldn't take the risk in parting with any major assets even though he's probably worth it.

Except for the most important one, it's not Toronto. It's why I wouldn't take the risk in parting with any major assets even though he's probably worth it.
- Sabresfan-365

The Sabres don't make that deal without assurances from his agent that they can sign him to an extension.

The Sabres don't make that deal without assurances from his agent that they can sign him to an extension.
- buffalofan19

Once upon a time, Chris Drury assured Darcy that there was a deal ...

The Sabres don't make that deal without assurances from his agent that they can sign him to an extension.
- buffalofan19

Then you run into the same problem you did with O'Reilly, negotiating from a position of weakness. You'd wind up having to pay him close to max cap or worse, watch him pull a babcock.

You'd trade Eichel for a UFA to be? I mean even if you disliked him, that's just horrid asset management.
- Sabresfan-365

Well, I am sure I would not offer him up.

Once upon a time, Chris Drury assured Darcy that there was a deal ...
- Der Kaiser

Fair enough, but why would Stamkos accept a trade to Buffalo right now unless he wanted to be there long term? Their chances of the postseason this year are worse than Tampa's right now. Unless he buys into the "Hockey Heaven" mantra, he nixes any deal to Buffalo in half a second.

Then you run into the same problem you did with O'Reilly, negotiating from a position of weakness. You'd wind up having to pay him close to max cap or worse, watch him pull a babcock.
- Sabresfan-365

There's not a team in this league that won't have to pay him max cap. If you trade for a guy like that, you better have full intention of backing up a Brinks truck to his house.

Fair enough, but why would Stamkos accept a trade to Buffalo right now unless he wanted to be there long term? Their chances of the postseason this year are worse than Tampa's right now. Unless he buys into the "Hockey Heaven" mantra, he nixes any deal to Buffalo in half a second.
- buffalofan19

"Can sign" is very different than an agreement on all terms.

Fair enough, but why would Stamkos accept a trade to Buffalo right now unless he wanted to be there long term? Their chances of the postseason this year are worse than Tampa's right now. Unless he buys into the "Hockey Heaven" mantra, he nixes any deal to Buffalo in half a second.
- buffalofan19

That's a good point, I keep forgetting he has an NTC

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/buf151221.html

More speculation on how we could be a good bet to get Stamkos. Did 89 or any of the other insiders ever mention how close we got to acquiring him?
- Slump Buster

Thank you for sharing that link SB.

Made me salivate a little thinking of Stamkos in a Sabres sweater on a line with Samson.

If he doesn't sign here, I want him to sign anywhere but Toronto and I mean anywhere!

Except for the most important one, it's not Toronto. It's why I wouldn't take the risk in parting with any major assets even though he's probably worth it.
- Sabresfan-365

Only a 2 hour trip down the QEW for him.

RoR
Skunk
Eichel
Girgensons
Larsson
Schaller (legwand replacement)

We don't need centers and if I remember correctly, Stam looked awful in the playoffs as a winger.

I peeked when I was a kid.

One night when I was older, I actually watched.
- Der Kaiser

Anyone but Reinhart, O'Reilly and Ristolainen for me.

Trade anyone else and I wouldn't care.
- BuffaloHardHat

Don't get me wrong - I wouldn't trade anyone to actually get him. I am thinking that if we did get him then we would have to trade quality players as we wouldn't be able to keep them all. Now that I've thought about it some more it probably wouldn't be Reinhart as we have him on the cheap for many years to come.

The Sabres don't make that deal without assurances from his agent that they can sign him to an extension.
- buffalofan19

I would think if Stamkos wants to play here, he would prefer to play the season out in tampa and thus keeping to sabres pipeline more full on july 1st

Except for the most important one, it's not Toronto. It's why I wouldn't take the risk in parting with any major assets even though he's probably worth it.
- Sabresfan-365

I can't imagine him wanting to go to Toronto. He has already been through one rebuild and they are years away from being anything.

RoR
Skunk
Eichel
Girgensons
Larsson
Schaller (legwand replacement)

We don't need centers and if I remember correctly, Stam looked awful in the playoffs as a winger.
- RhinoFan

move ror back lw

ror-stamkos-skunk
kane-eichel-ennis

problem solved

move ror back lw

ror-stamkos-skunk
kane-eichel-ennis

problem solved
- homiedclown

You could probably ice that lineup for the next 4 years until some of the guys have to get paid.

I am pasting the first part

"Lightning captain Steven Stamkos made it clear on Saturday he wants to remain with the team long term, despite reports that he is probably on his way out of Tampa Bay.

Stamkos, who is in the final year of his contract, told the Tampa Bay Times that his representatives and the Lightning are "definitely still talking," and that he's optimistic an extension can be reached.

"Like I've always said, I envision myself winning a championship here and want to do that," Stamkos told the Tampa Bay Times. "Obviously, we got close last year, and I'm the captain of this team, and I want to be that leader."


Stamkos, 25, also denied any rumored rift with coach Jon Cooper, telling the Times, "That's false, too. ... There's been so many different articles written about Coop and I. How do they know what's going on in the room? A lot of it is speculation, a lot of it is a story that needs something to make it seem legit. There needs to be a reason [he's still unsigned]. Why no one has had any concrete stuff is because there hasn't been anything to talk about."


http://espn.go.com/nhl/st...a-bay-lightning-long-term