We don't know exactly why Babcock picked Toronto. The choice came down between us and them and he picked them. What if they offered 2 mill a year less? What if he had attractive choices. ?
Either way, it doesn't change the fact that Stamkos' concerns will be much different. You only get so long to be in your prime and some would say that age 26 (what he will be next year) is already on the down slope. That team is years away from competing. I'll take the field in this race any day.
- Slump Buster

I mean, what it comes down to is the same thing it's been forever. Do you want to be in Toronto which is the biggest hockey city in North America where you'll be a national superstar, or do you want to play in Buffalo, NY where you'll be loved but won't get the same attention and recognition.

If he wants the fame and the glory and the lights and the big city and the chance to play for a historic organization then he will. If he doesn't we at least have a chance. No one know what he wants other than him. I wouldn't advise placing any bets that he's wearing blue and gold on July 1st.

Frankly surprised you're still here.
- Der Kaiser

Frankly, so am I!

We don't know exactly why Babcock picked Toronto. The choice came down between us and them and he picked them. What if they offered 2 mill a year less? What if he had attractive choices. ?
Either way, it doesn't change the fact that Stamkos' concerns will be much different. You only get so long to be in your prime and some would say that age 26 (what he will be next year) is already on the down slope. That team is years away from competing. I'll take the field in this race any day.
- Slump Buster

You also might only get 1 chance to play for your hometown team.

Chris Drury grew up a Ranger fan....

I mean, what it comes down to is the same thing it's been forever. Do you want to be in Toronto which is the biggest hockey city in North America where you'll be a national superstar, or do you want to play in Buffalo, NY where you'll be loved but won't get the same attention and recognition.

If he wants the fame and the glory and the lights and the big city and the chance to play for a historic organization then he will. If he doesn't we at least have a chance. No one know what he wants other than him. I wouldn't advise placing any bets that he's wearing blue and gold on July 1st.
- Zschalberg

Quick, tell me which high-end free agents are going to Toronto? That's exactly why people do not pick Toronto. People don't want to play in the fish bowl. There have been countless articles written about Toronto's issue with recruiting top talent via free agency.

You also might only get 1 chance to play for your hometown team.

Chris Drury grew up a Ranger fan....
- sbroads24

And if that's his goal then nothing we do is going to get him here. Not telling him it's 2 hours away, not giving him a max contract, not letting him play center. If he wants to play for Toronto that badly then he will.

If not you have a chance.

You also might only get 1 chance to play for your hometown team.

Chris Drury grew up a Ranger fan....
- sbroads24

Sure, and rarely does it ever happen. Countless kids grew up in toronto and it is rare that they return to play there.

Quick, tell me which high-end free agents are going to Toronto? That's exactly why people do not pick Toronto. People don't want to play in the fish bowl. There have been countless articles written about Toronto's issue with recruiting top talent via free agency.
- Slump Buster

I'm not saying that it's an easy choice to Toronto. I'm saying if that's what he wants then they have it and we don't. If he wants a small city where he'll get a max contract and be the go to guy where he might be able to make a run then sure he can try to choose here. But there are those who want to play for the big city where they'll be famous. Especially if he lived there.

Frankly, so am I!
- SabresPanacea

With Stamkos & Johansen supposedly available (and Duchene)...

Makes sense that Murray would at least kick the tires on a potential deal
But where would any of these guys fit?

Seems like O'Reilly & Eichel are locked in as our #1 & #2 centers

None of them would be happy as a #3, and they'd cost too much to put in that role
Idk any of them would be happy on the wing either.
Stamkos seemed not to be, idk if Johansen would be any good at it, and Duchene has had much more success (at least offensively) at center.

Plus...
What are we giving up? These guys won't be cheap

I like our forward group going forward
Especially if one of Bailey, Baptiste & Rodriguez become a top6 player, which I think is a decent possibility.
We have a lot of other forward prospects with top9 potential as well.
Just need Kane-Eichel-Ennis line to gel and we should be in good shape.

Top4 LH defenseman for the future
Franchise goalie

Those are by far the 2 biggest holes we need to be concerned about if we're gonna win a Cup

With Stamkos & Johansen supposedly available (and Duchene)...

Makes sense that Murray would at least kick the tires on a potential deal
But where would any of these guys fit?

Seems like O'Reilly & Eichel are locked in as our #1 & #2 centers

None of them would be happy as a #3, and they'd cost too much to put in that role
Idk any of them would be happy on the wing either.
Stamkos seemed not to be, idk if Johansen would be any good at it, and Duchene has had much more success (at least offensively) at center.

Plus...
What are we giving up? These guys won't be cheap

I like our forward group going forward
Especially if one of Bailey, Baptiste & Rodriguez become a top6 player, which I think is a decent possibility.
We have a lot of other forward prospects with top9 potential as well.
Just need Kane-Eichel-Ennis line to gel and we should be in good shape.

Top4 LH defenseman for the future
Franchise goalie

Those are by far the 2 biggest holes we need to be concerned about if we're gonna win a Cup
- jdfitz77

If Stamkos were to find his way here, he wouldn't be the #3. One of those guys would either move to the wing or off the roster.

Sure, and rarely does it ever happen. Countless kids grew up in toronto and it is rare that they return to play there.
- Slump Buster

It happens more than you think. Off the top of my head

Shawn Matthias
David Clarkson
Gary Roberts

Sure, and rarely does it ever happen. Countless kids grew up in toronto and it is rare that they return to play there.
- Slump Buster

I think speculating on whether or not Stamkos wants to be here is a waste of time.
Obviously, none of us know his feelings on where he wants to play.

The better question is...
Does he fit here?

Is he gonna play RW?
He didn't seem to happy about that in the playoffs last year.
Is O'Reilly gonna get bumped down to 3c?
That certainly wouldn't make much sense

And how the heck could we even afford him?

Sure, and rarely does it ever happen. Countless kids grew up in toronto and it is rare that they return to play there.
- Slump Buster

It's also rare that a player with such a high profile makes it to Free Agency.

If Stamkos were to find his way here, he wouldn't be the #3. One of those guys would either move to the wing or off the roster.
- buffalofan19

Eichel or O'Reilly would move to the wing or off the roster?
That seems very doubtful to me

With Stamkos & Johansen supposedly available (and Duchene)...

Makes sense that Murray would at least kick the tires on a potential deal
But where would any of these guys fit?

Seems like O'Reilly & Eichel are locked in as our #1 & #2 centers

None of them would be happy as a #3, and they'd cost too much to put in that role
Idk any of them would be happy on the wing either.
Stamkos seemed not to be, idk if Johansen would be any good at it, and Duchene has had much more success (at least offensively) at center.

Plus...
What are we giving up? These guys won't be cheap

I like our forward group going forward
Especially if one of Bailey, Baptiste & Rodriguez become a top6 player, which I think is a decent possibility.
We have a lot of other forward prospects with top9 potential as well.
Just need Kane-Eichel-Ennis line to gel and we should be in good shape.

Top4 LH defenseman for the future
Franchise goalie

Those are by far the 2 biggest holes we need to be concerned about if we're gonna win a Cup
- jdfitz77

Stamkos would only be an option as a Free Agent IMO. Sabres don't have the assets to pull off the deal without undoing everything the rebuild has done to date.

Eichel or O'Reilly would move to the wing or off the roster?
That seems very doubtful to me
- jdfitz77

I'd rather move Eichel or ROR to the wing than Stamkos. In fact, I'd be cool with moving Jack to the wing today.

I think speculating on whether or not Stamkos wants to be here is a waste of time.
Obviously, none of us know his feelings on where he wants to play.

The better question is...
Does he fit here?

Is he gonna play RW?
He didn't seem to happy about that in the playoffs last year.
Is O'Reilly gonna get bumped down to 3c?
That certainly wouldn't make much sense

And how the heck could we even afford him?
- jdfitz77

Long term we can't

Eichel or O'Reilly would move to the wing or off the roster?
That seems very doubtful to me
- jdfitz77

Yes. It's doubtful to me that you would land Stamkos in a trade without one of those two going the other way. And in the highly unlikely event he would come here via free agency, you don't pay a guy that much money to be your #3 center, nor would a guy of that profile sign here if he was going to be.

Long term we can't
- sbroads24

Stamkos is one of those few players where, if you have a realistic opportunity to get him (and I don't think they do), you move things around to make it work.

I think speculating on whether or not Stamkos wants to be here is a waste of time.
Obviously, none of us know his feelings on where he wants to play.

The better question is...
Does he fit here?

Is he gonna play RW?
He didn't seem to happy about that in the playoffs last year.
Is O'Reilly gonna get bumped down to 3c?
That certainly wouldn't make much sense

And how the heck could we even afford him?
- jdfitz77

To be clear, I wasn't speculating about whether or not he wants to be here. I was only commenting on the belief that he is likely to go to Toronto.

It's also rare that a player with such a high profile makes it to Free Agency.
- buffalofan19

Sure, but you just don't see guys returning to Toronto in specific and their hometowns in general.

I'm not saying that it's an easy choice to Toronto. I'm saying if that's what he wants then they have it and we don't. If he wants a small city where he'll get a max contract and be the go to guy where he might be able to make a run then sure he can try to choose here. But there are those who want to play for the big city where they'll be famous. Especially if he lived there.
- Zschalberg

Your logic - while sound - defies historical trends.

Sure, but you just don't see guys returning to Toronto in specific and their hometowns in general.
- Slump Buster

And often times, it's because of extenuating circumstances (salary constraints, players under contract, full roster, etc.). Toronto is in a great position to land him, and it sounds like he wants to be there. The reality is this: there are two realistic places that Steven Stamkos will be playing hockey next year, and both of them where royal blue and white.

Long term we can't
- sbroads24

Well, we can, just not with the way the team is set up today and it's not easy.

Come the end of the 2017-18 season Kane, Reinhart, and Jack all need new deals. After that year it could be:
ROR (7.5M) - Stamkos (11M) - Reinhart (4.5M-5.5M)
Kane (6M) - Eichel (4.5-5.5M) - Ennis (4.6M)

Your top 6 takes up 40.1 Million. Assuming the salary cap goes up 1M per year that brings it to 74 Million. You have 34 million left to field 6 more forwards, 6 defensemen, and 2 goalies. Filling the bottom 6 with all rookies and cheap players averaging 2 million and you have 18 Million left for 6 D and 2 goalies.

Risto(6M) - Bogo(5.2M)
McCabe(3M) - Pysyk(3M)

You're now at .8M left with 4 spots left to fill. So you would likely have to get rid of one of those top 6 guys. Replacing Ennis with a 1M rookie gives you 4.4M left, which gives you enough for 2 bottom pairing rookies and a backup goalie. Now you need to find enough for a goaltender (Lehner makes 2.225M and is an RFA after 2016-17, for reference).

Long story short, you can do it, but you're going to be very top heavy and better hope you have that depth in the system that can plug in and play bottom 6 and bottom pairing roles for cheap.

Well, we can, just not with the way the team is set up today and it's not easy.

Come the end of the 2017-18 season Kane, Reinhart, and Jack all need new deals. After that year it could be:
ROR (7.5M) - Stamkos (11M) - Reinhart (4.5M-5.5M)
Kane (6M) - Eichel (4.5-5.5M) - Ennis (4.6M)

Your top 6 takes up 40.1 Million. Assuming the salary cap goes up 1M per year that brings it to 74 Million. You have 34 million left to field 6 more forwards, 6 defensemen, and 2 goalies. Filling the bottom 6 with all rookies and cheap players averaging 2 million and you have 18 Million left for 6 D and 2 goalies.

Risto(6M) - Bogo(5.2M)
McCabe(3M) - Pysyk(3M)

You're now at .8M left with 4 spots left to fill. So you would likely have to get rid of one of those top 6 guys. Replacing Ennis with a 1M rookie gives you 4.4M left, which gives you enough for 2 bottom pairing rookies and a backup goalie. Now you need to find enough for a goaltender (Lehner makes 2.225M and is an RFA after 2016-17, for reference).

Long story short, you can do it, but you're going to be very top heavy and better hope you have that depth in the system that can plug in and play bottom 6 and bottom pairing roles for cheap.
- Zschalberg

And that is where I was at when I started this thread. We could absolutely do it for the next 3 or 4 years. If we were to do it we would have to spin one of our top young guys for a nice package and that is part of why signing him would work out. We would get him in his best years and have some of the young studs on the cheap for a few years.