Michael Stuart: Stamkos Focused on Winning in Tampa

Stamkos is going to look great on our second line

Stamkos is going to look great on our second line
- Holy_Makinaw99

I'd play him on the third line. Checking center.

it was a dumb line of questioning to begin with and he handled it well.

it was a dumb line of questioning to begin with and he handled it well.
- cmpdave

I thought so too.

Prepare for the douche-nami!!!!

This is what happens in Toronto media when Rob Ford behaves. There's nothing to report on so they start stirring poop up.

This is what happens in Toronto media when Rob Ford behaves. There's nothing to report on so they start stirring poop up.
- 1979AD

If he does leave tampa I doubt it will be for Toronto. But I doubt he leaves tampa no reason the lightning won't be a cup contender for the next 5 years. I'm not saying the leafs suck but I would not trade our team for there team. I would not trade our prospects for there prospects. I would not trade our gm for there gm! I would not trade our owner for there owners. I would not trade our weather for there weather. So I'm sorry I don't see a chance stamkos goes to the leafs! I'm not worried at all! I say a 10 percent chance stamkos signs in Toronto 90 percent he signs in tampa.

If he does leave tampa I doubt it will be for Toronto. But I doubt he leaves tampa no reason the lightning won't be a cup contender for the next 5 years. I'm not saying the leafs suck but I would not trade our team for there team. I would not trade our prospects for there prospects. I would not trade our gm for there gm! I would not trade our owner for there owners. I would not trade our weather for there weather. So I'm sorry I don't see a chance stamkos goes to the leafs! I'm not worried at all! I say a 10 percent chance stamkos signs in Toronto 90 percent he signs in tampa.
- todd1a

See, I completely disagree. If he does leave Tampa, I'd be shocked if it wasn't for Toronto.

Stammer isn't leaving Tampa until he's past 34-35 yrs. they will bend over backwards to keep him there, as they should. Guy is the best pure shooter in the league since Kovalchuk. And I say that with massive respect. Kovalchuk was my favorite non-north American player. I hate the devils but I hated seeing him leave he league.

Anyways, don't let the TO media into your heads. They are just poop disturbers.

Good lord, Adam Proteau is such a tool. THN really needs some new writers, considering he and Campbell get so much page-time, it feel like THN is become more and more the National Enquirer of the hockey world.

Subscription....cancelled.

See, I completely disagree. If he does leave Tampa, I'd be shocked if it wasn't for Toronto.
- Michael_Stuart

The only place he'd go if he left is Toronto.

See, I completely disagree. If he does leave Tampa, I'd be shocked if it wasn't for Toronto.
- Michael_Stuart

I'm not saying Toronto won't be in the running but things can change in two years! A team can pop up and offer stamkos a better chance at the cup. But I think he stays in tampa period so no point in saying he is going to Toronto or somewhere else. You know what messes this whole thing up for Toronto! There own media the guy has two years left on his contract and they are already in his ear. I don't think he wants to go play there what a media nightmare that would be! He could not walk down the street with out being ran after by fans and media. There media and fans need to lay off him if they want him to go there.

Yeah, those comments aren't exactly a ringing endorsement for him staying. I hope he does though, always nice to see a star player paly out an entire career in one city.

I'm not saying Toronto won't be in the running but things can change in two years! A team can pop up and offer stamkos a better chance at the cup. But I think he stays in tampa period so no point in saying he is going to Toronto or somewhere else. You know what messes this whole thing up for Toronto! There own media the guy has two years left on his contract and they are already in his ear. I don't think he wants to go play there what a media nightmare that would be! He could not walk down the street with out being ran after by fans and media. There media and fans need to lay off him if they want him to go there.
- todd1a

Based on the current state of competing teams and their cap situations, I don't think many teams will be more attractive from a hockey perspective than the Lightning. If he leaves, it'll be for other reasons.

You call it a media nightmare. Some guys love it.

Yeah, those comments aren't exactly a ringing endorsement for him staying. I hope he does though, always nice to see a star player paly out an entire career in one city.
- Nucker101

What do you expect him to say Toronto sucks and I never want to play here ? He is always going to keep options open. He is not going to say I want to play in tampa forever his agent would be pissed and kill him! They want to get every penny they can from Jeff vinik.

Yeah, those comments aren't exactly a ringing endorsement for him staying. I hope he does though, always nice to see a star player paly out an entire career in one city.
- Nucker101

If he desires to leave then I hope he does it with class. We don't have the depth to replace a Stamkos (nobody does), but we do have the depth to carry on as a strong competing team.

Based on the current state of competing teams and their cap situations, I don't think many teams will be more attractive from a hockey perspective than the Lightning. If he leaves, it'll be for other reasons.

You call it a media nightmare. Some guys love it.
- Michael_Stuart

Stamkos is close to Marty St. Louis to you see the way the lightning handled Marty being a issue for stamkos staying ?

Stamkos is close to Marty St. Louis to you see the way the lightning handled Marty being a issue for stamkos staying ?
- todd1a

No.

What do you expect him to say Toronto sucks and I never want to play here ? He is always going to keep options open. He is not going to say I want to play in tampa forever his agent would be pissed and kill him! They want to get every penny they can from Jeff vinik.
- todd1a

True, it's possible that it's more of a negotiating ploy as well, saying "we'll see" makes the fans nervous and puts some pressure on Yzerman. I think he re-signs as well.

I just think Toronto is being used for stamkos to get a big pay day from the lightning next summer and it will work.

True, it's possible that it's more of a negotiating ploy as well, saying "we'll see" makes the fans nervous and puts some pressure on Yzerman. I think he re-signs as well.
- Nucker101

If he leaves it won't be because of money it will be for other reasons. Really look what ryan Callahan did he used buffalo to get a little more money out of tampa! It worked cally and his agent played that perfect. My thinking is stamkos and his agent are doing the same thing.

I just think Toronto is being used for stamkos to get a big pay day from the lightning next summer and it will work.
- todd1a

Stamkos would get a big pay day from any team in the league

I just think Toronto is being used for stamkos to get a big pay day from the lightning next summer and it will work.
- todd1a

Stamkos will get max regardless of what he says!