Stamkos is better than Kucherov imo but respect your opinion.
- Leafsandbolts

On this I disagree

Kuch is less dependent on the players around him

Cost of living, housing costs and top line dollars are essentially peripheral to core financial determination. Accountants will plot out the net and timing of every dollar paid and determine the exact investment opportunity of any offer.

Clearly there is a huge, well documented financial advantage for any team where players are not obliged to pay state taxes. On $10m. I think the net benefit of no state tax is about $600k (in your pocket dollars). Unless you work on the numbers end of the calculations you have no idea how huge that number is when repeated annually and projected over 7 (or 8) investment years. The financials are overwhelmingly tipped in Tampa's favour. Have to wonder if Yzerman has misunderstood or misplayed his hand.

Also, need to wonder if Tampa decided a while ago that they are okay with him leaving. So, why not trade him last year?
- spatso

Simple. They made the cup finals and were within 2 games of winning it with a one-legged tender and a one-armed top line center not named Stamkos

True about the Norris, but we all know Hedman SHOULD have been on his country's Olympic team. That was the most ridiculous oversight I've ever seen when it comes to Olympics rosters.
- SolidGoldBricks

This

Jesus. Sounds like Stamkos is about as useful as Kostitsyn. Feck, his ability levels must have dropped rapidly.
- walshyleafsfan

No just being honest about his level of play being commensurate with his salary

All up to Stamkos now last effort by Tampa https://mobile.twitter.co...status/745630123697704960
- todd1a

Positive news. Doubt we will know for sure until next week.

Don't disagree, however for player to command and be worth the cap hit he will get said player needs to be better than producing stats based on who he plays with. He's a goal scorer and is/will be paid to score goals. Problem is he isn't scoring goals like he used to and for a player to be worth the % of cap he is going to be he needs to be able to continue producing at the higher level even without certain linemates b/c in a cap world the reality is signing Stammer to anything above $9M will cost the team talent to play around Stamkos
- uf1910

Drouin might still be a good linemate but Cooper didn't seem to like that combo since the ice seemed to slant downhill only to the offensive zone.

Drouin might still be a good linemate but Cooper didn't seem to like that combo since the ice seemed to slant downhill only to the offensive zone.
- Leafsandbolts

I have always been intrigued at a Drouin/Stamkos combo. However it would have to be the current Drouin vs pre-suspension Drouin

Fwiw a million dollar house in Buffalo costs 3 mil in TO or Tampa.

Some people don't want big city b.s., like traffic, crime, paying fifty bucks just to park your car, etc. Maybe he does not want the media circus that every single day would bring in TO. He would be treated like a superstar here but not harrassed and every time his family goes out it won't cause a riot. He might get some flack if he has a down year here, but he won't get publicly crucified.

And the notion of getting more endorsements in TO is shaky. Do we really think CCM, Rebok, Bauer or whomever is not going to throw millions at him if he lives in a small U.S. city vs TO?

People are motivated by a lot of things.
- LandlordTom

That's all good. But the dude will be making 10 million a freakin' year. I think it more comes down to where does he WANT to live and play. Not so much where he can save a few dollars on a house or a meal....

Let's say Austin Mathews is selected 1st overall.
8 years from now he has 4-5 40 goal seasons.
Leads NHL twice in goals.
Captains the leafs to a stanley cup finals.
Is considered one of the best players in the NHL.....
and then walks away for NOTHING at 26 years old.

Now if it meant the leafs went to game 7 of the ECF and lost in the SCF during that time - I'd say the leafs would take that in a heartbeat, but in terms of just the asset - it's a big loss to loose Stamkos this week if its not for anything. Frankly, I don't know why this decision wasn't made last season because loosing an asset like this without any replacement - and now having to sign Hedman, Bishop, Kucherov...etc

But I respect Stevie Y, from Nepean, and the lighting a lot so we'll see