Comments on: Lightning GM Steve Yzerman clears the air over Steven Stamkos

By: muttbolts

muttbolts — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 22:24:14 +0000

Well said mike and gruden the diva(nice).stammer said so clise to a deal,he’s not worried about it.rumors are(just rumors) 5yrs at 7.5-8mil a year. I would be worried either.

By: grudenthediva

grudenthediva — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 02:56:12 +0000

Someone’s been in the spiked Timbits, again. Seriously, the entitlement coming out of Toronto is just hilarious. He prefers to play in Toronto, eh? Says who? You and your mom? A couple of guys you give spare loonies and toonies to on the street corner? Fact: Stamkos has said all along he’s staying in Tampa. Show me where he’s said or even inferred he wants to play in Toronto and…yeah, I thought so.

Yeah, he really wants to go to Toronto and have a giant blue and white bullseye put on his back as he tries to get the team to the 8th spot in the East, at best. If its the biggest hockey market in the world, it only makes sense for Crosby, Ovechkin, Chara, et. al. to play there as well. When will you idiots realize that this isn’t EA Sports and YOU CAN’T HAVE EVERYONE! “Derr we suck, eh, and we haven’t competed for a Cup in aboot twenty years, but everyone should play here because its just common sense, don’tcha know!”

By November and December, you guys will be pining for another lottery pick, which hopefully for your sake hasn’t been dealt to Boston by then.

By: Mike S.

Mike S. — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:21:29 +0000

The only way the Lightning won’t be able to re-sign Stamkos is if Stamkos agent demands a contract worth more than $10 mil per year (similar to teammate Vincent Lecavalieror) or tells the lightning that he wants to play elsewhere. Now, I don’t Stamkos demanding to play elsewhere, but I do see him and his agent asking for alot of money. Although the Lightning have the cap space (roughly $15.7 mil) they still have other RFA of their own to still sign, other than Stamkos. Taking a $10 mil hit on one player would be hard for the lightning to absorb, unless they can make a trade to lower their current team salary. Packaging or separate trades of Ryan Malone ($4.5mil) and Pavel Kubina ($3.8) would certainly give the lightning more leverage and cap space for Stamkos. The only problem with that is will the teams acquiring either Malone or Kubina be ready to absorb their salaries? There are not many teams out there who would be willing to sign Stamkos to an offer sheet and surrender 4 1st round draft picks (see RFA chart below), thats a hugh commitment.
1,034,249 or less: No compensation
$1,034,249 — $1,567,043: Third-round pick
$1,567,043 — $3,134,055: Second-round pick
$3,134,088 — $4,701,131: First and third-round pick
$4,701,131 — $6,268,175: First, second and third-round pick
$6,268,175 — $7,835,219: Two first-round picks, a second and third
$7,835,219 and higher: Four first-round picks

So, I see the only way Stamkos doesn’t remain a lightning is if Yzerman decides that the price tag is too high and makes calls to any to all interesting parties and do a sign and trade. The odds of Yzerman doing this is probably less than 15% and at least 85% that he would over spend to keep Stamkos. Although their are alot of teams that would love to have Stamkos on their team. I see only three teams ( in no particular order) who could afford Stamkos salary and have the players that would interest Tampa are:

Los Angelos Kings
New York Rangers
Anaheim Ducks

There may be some dark horses out there, but for the most part; these are the 3 teams that have both resources (money and personal) to get a deal done, if they are interested.

By: Mike S.

Mike S. — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 20:54:38 +0000

Who does the Maple leafs have trade that would interest Tampa for Stamkos???Looking at their current roster, I do not see any combination of players that I would take for Stamkos if I was the Lightnings GM. So stop with the fantasy trade, he is not going to Toronto.

By: leafsguy

leafsguy — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:32:17 +0000

‘The sole threat to Tampa Bay’s efforts to re-signing Stamkos still remains an offer sheet from a competing team…’

Actually, that’s not the sole threat… the fact is, Steven Stamkos prefers to play in Toronto, where he is from, where he can maximize his endorsement/earning potential. Tampa Bay, as talented a team as it is, cannot compete. Newport Sports, the agence that represents Stamkos is based in Toronto, and if they’re providing their client with the right advice then he will eventually be playing with the Leafs. Toronto, just happens to be the biggest Hockey Market in the world, so it only makes sense for Stamkos to play there.

Stamkos will be traded to the Leafs likely by November/December…

By: hystoracle

hystoracle — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:20:10 +0000

How do they fit that under the cap? Buffalo is right at the cap with no space. How do you propose they make room for a $20 mil salary? The only time Stamkos will be in Buffalo this season is the two times the Lightning have to make a trip there. Why aren’t there all these crazy deals being bantered about Doughty? He is in the same position with the Kings.

By: skoobyfl

skoobyfl — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:54:01 +0000

He’s going to the Buffalo Sabres because making an extra $20 Million over the first 3 years seems like a good idea right now, Tampa is light on the $ for Vincent to keep as well. You’d be suprised how $20 extra Million motivates a player, especially a hockey player where one wrong turn is a career.