Latest on Steven Stamkos and Nikita Nikitin, plus speculation over what moves (if any) the Blackhawks might make before the Feb. 29 trade deadline.
Concern over Stamkos’ performance.
The decline in Steven Stamkos’ production this season has raised eyebrows.
ESPN.COM: Shane O’Donnell believes determining if Steven Stamkos’ below-average production this season is merely a short-term thing or a long-term issue for Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman, as well as any GM interested in pursuing the Bolts captain at the trade deadline or via free agency in July. Possible factors include Stamkos perhaps passing more, or the absence of former linemate Martin St. Louis, along with the broken leg he suffered two seasons ago and the impact Lightning coach Jon Cooper is having upon Stamkos’ game. Given the high cost of signing Stamkos after this season (potentially a long-term deal worth over $10 million annually), O’Donnell cautions GMs to use due diligence.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Granted, this isn’t a rumor or speculation regarding Stamkos’ trade or contract status. Given the conjecture surrounding the Lightning captain this season, I felt it was worth noting. I’m not buying the theory that his broken leg suffered in 2013 affected his play. He netted 43 goals last season, which was second-highest among NHL scorers in 2014-15. Other issues noted by O’Donnell seem to be a work here. Maybe Stamkos’ performance will improve if he played for a different coach or with better linemates.
Can the Blackhawks address roster holes via trade?
CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Steve Rosenbloom recently wondered when the Blackhawks will make moves to address their need for a consistent top-six forward and top-four defenseman. He feels that’s what they need if they hope to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. He notes the offseason loss of key players like Brandon Saad, Patrick Sharp and Johnny Oduya has taken a toll. Rosenbloom also suggests salary cap limitations could force GM Stan Bowman into choosing which of his club’s roster holes to address, but it could also involve “the kind of overpayment of a top prospect that the Sharp deal required. Maybe more.” The “more” could include young players like forward Teuvo Teravainen or defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Considering the ‘Hawks are defending champions, I think Bowman will be patient and won’t give up too much of his future for a quick fix today. It’s not as though the Blackhawks’ window to win another championship is closing anytime soon. Their core talent (Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Corey Crawford) are still in their playing prime and under long-term deals. Artem Anisimov has turned into a solid pickup, while offseason signing Artemi Panarin has tremendous chemistry with Kane. Teravainen and van Riemsdyk are promising players, as is Marko Dano, who was acquired with Anisimov from Columbus in last summer’s Brandon Saad deal.
Despite cap limitations, Bowman managed to swap Trevor Daley for Rob Scuderi last month, though that was more of a salary dump than an improvement to the blueline. Perhaps he’ll find a decent deal or two near the trade deadline, but I’ll be very surprised if it involves one of his promising kids for a short-term return. Better options could be found in the offseason, when Bowman has a little more cap space to work with and when better trade options can be found, might be the best way to go.
Latest on Nikita Nikitin.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson reports Oilers defenseman Nikita Nikitin is heading back to the club’s AHL affiliate in Bakersfield, meaning it’s probably the last time we’ll see him skating with the Oilers. Matheson claimed they hopes a rival club would see enough of Nikitin to trade for him but there weren’t any takers. Matheson believes the Oilers will try to move Nikitin at the Feb. 29 trade deadline, when he has less money remaining on his contract for this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Several weeks ago, there was some media chatter claiming “several teams” had interest in Nikitin. Evidently, they didn’t like what they saw. Nikitin’s $4.5 million salary was probably a sticking point, especially if the Oilers weren’t willing to pick up a portion of it.
Still workin it on the holidays. Thanks Lyle. Happy new year!
I think Yzerman and owner Jeff Vinik have long ago agreed upon a contract number and term and will make an offer to re-sign Stamkos sometime this month.
In short, it’s up to Stamkos to decide if he wants to stay with the Lightning and continue to live where he faces no State taxes and a 3-4 year window of opportunity to win a Stanley Cup; because if he does, he will likely have to do it at a below market price to which Newport Sports will likely advise him to pass on it.
Really the no State tax would only be a factor if the value of what he could make in Tampa vs elsewhere were some what equal…not sure that the endorsements he could make in many other markets wouldn be higher than what he would be saving in tax. Not just in Toronto but in any major market NY Toronto Mtl Boston a team in California…the tax wouldnt make a difference if he was getting a 9 mill per year deal in Tampa vs a 10 mill deal in New York or Toronto where he would likely be looking at significantly higher number of money and opportunities for endorsements.
You have brought this up prior & I hadn’t addressed. You might be correct but I travel extensively. Dallas, Houston, Edmonton, Calgary & Vancouver primarily but numerous other locales as required & I have seen Steven Stamkos’s mug on bus stop signs, billboards, bus’s, taxi’s & other all over North America. That leads me to believe he is doing well in the endorsement market now. Not saying your train of thought isn’t sound just not certain he isn’t pulling in double digit endorsements in the millions now.
Right those all would be national deals and certainly very expensive but ehat about region type sponsor ships where he could spend most his summer at home not having to travel all over the place to work for those contracts? Not saying he isnt getting endorsements now just that say in New York California Toronto places like that in those markets there would be a number more oppertunities for them and the benefit of not spending your off time traveling to do the work for them. Compare the number of car dealer ships jewelry stores and other things that arenot exacyly hockey related that would be bidding on his services and the numbers of them in some of those other markets and the number of those things in Tampa.
In Tampa Stamkos is a hockey player star with a cap on how many local businesses would be using his services for endorsements yes its a hockey market kind of but in a few other markets he would have the oppertunity to be a bigger star with the ability to sell cars watches suits do interviews for magazines investment opportunities in resteraunts and bars…much more so than in a relatively small market where hockey and hockey players are the most recognizable endorsement material. Surely a guy in the petroleum industry would recognize the difference in the size of markets and their shares.
For the right guy, in the right situation, the endorsement money is huge. Some examples of guys with lucrative business ventures;
Michael Jordan made $100M in 16 seasons playing his sport. He made $500M over 12 years in endorsements. 5 times his total salaries in 4 less years…
Arnold Palmer made $2M in total prize money over the years…(hehe) His drinks business now makes him $40M yearly. Way to go!
Tiger Woods made $13M in prize money in 2013, while in the same year, he also made $65M in other business ventures (sponsorships, appearances, design consultations). That’s 5 times his prize earnings – yearly! In 2016 his business ventures share of the total revenue is even bigger.
———-
In short. Steven Stamkos is a big fish in a big market. He will definitely make some splash if coming there. That market has not had a recognized homegrown player of such superstar status in I don’t know how many years. If Stamkos wanted to maximize his value and seek slam dunk business opportunities that would transcend beyond his playing career, Toronto is very enticing.
Darren Dreger reported just before the current season that apparently Mike Babcock was extremely busy, with his agent, regarding bookings on the lecture circuit, and appearances, in the Toronto region. I can’t remember how much earnings it was, but if memory serves me right, it had potential to yearly equal or exceed his actual, already inflated, salary! Dreger speculated that the huge salary offer and many lucrative business opportunities probably swayed Babcock in the Toronto direction.
What if Stamkos thinks similarly? It’s fairly natural to wonder in light of others.
The state taxes are merely part of the decision process..not the heart of the decision. Anyway you look at it,in his income bracket, taxes are a condsideration
stamkos is sponsored by nike he is making enough money in endoresments doesn’t matter where he goes
lol if he makes “enough” money as it is I would suspect there wouldnt be 15 articlles a week about how it might possibly not be enough, and a contract would likely already be signed.
lol he could want more in TB but the endorsements have nothing to do with it lol when your hooked up with nike I don’t think your gonna get more from a watch company or car dealership lmao
Ya I guess that’s why virtually every other person with endorsement deals for co.s like RBK Nike and similar companies don’t do any other deals…jezus bog bear what happens after hockey? Not saying he is going to leave Tampa but how many commercials have you seen of things like the official car dealer or jewelry store of and some guy like Paul coffee or Jason Spezza Erik Karlsson pushing cars and watches? Lundqvist on fashion magazines selling high end suits…
lol paul coffey was a different era not making near as much money the other guys are still playing ( working) im just saying nike is gonna be paying way more than a car dealership or watch company
And when Coffee played he was getting endorsement deals and making more than previous players made bit he still sells cars…in 10 or 20 years guys will be making considerably more than players do now…that’s the cycle…Crosby and McKinon have deal with big agencies and they still sell donoughts for Tim Horton’s..just because you have a Nikedeal ddoesn’t mean you are not going to want more endorsement deals and if you don’t have to travel or can do it with less travel it could be of benefit. Karllson does car commercials in Ottawa he has endorsement deals as well why you think that is? In Tampa yes Stamkos is relatively well known but a hockey player in Florida would not have the same kind of recognition as say a NASCAR driver football player basketball player golfer or many other athletes and celeberties would and the regional market is smaller than say New York or a large market like Toronto where the main sport is hockey not NASCAR or foot ball golf..he would have more options.
he will get the endorsements wherever he goes small or big market Crosby and mackinnion do tim hortons but tim hortons is Canada wide and would be a very big endorsement! you have no idea how many he does in tb there might even be more to get in a small market because of less star players from other sports in the area? big or small star players will get the money in endorsements
Shticky – I wrote a long effin’ reply regarding the endorsement thingy, but it won’t show up. I don’t know why. Pretty annoying.
Yeah Steve Rosenbloom tends to write panick columns-I wouldn’t exactly expect anything he says to be something I would do
A couple of other possible explanations for Stamkos’ production not mentioned: perhaps he’s preparing to move on. Maybe he’s as distracted as the rest of us by this contract impasse. Maybe he’s not happy. Though many of us would be happy to switch places with him, he’s in a bit of precarious position. Who could blame him if he’s not 100% committed to the TBL.
Jist as many if not more reasons to move on as to stay…
again not saying thats going to be the case he could sign in Tampa but I ahree with you who could blame him for leaving, or for Yzerman not wanting to gibe him a giant deal
Shticky & Striker – Something not right so I post this reply regarding Stamkos endorsements again:
For the right guy, in the right situation, the endorsement money is huge. Some examples of guys with lucrative business ventures;
Michael Jordan made $100M in 16 seasons playing his sport. He made $500M over 12 years in endorsements. 5 times his total salaries in 4 less years…
Arnold Palmer made $2M in total prize money over the years…(hehe) His drinks business now makes him $40M yearly. Way to go!
Tiger Woods made $13M in prize money in 2013, while in the same year, he also made $65M in other business ventures (sponsorships, appearances, design consultations). That’s 5 times his prize earnings – yearly! In 2016 his business ventures share of the total revenue is even bigger.
In short. Steven Stamkos is a big fish in a big market. He will definitely make some splash if coming there. That market has not had a recognized homegrown player of such superstar status in I don’t know how many years. If Stamkos wanted to maximize his value and seek slam dunk business opportunities that would transcend beyond his playing career, Toronto is very enticing.
Darren Dreger reported just before the current season that apparently Mike Babcock was extremely busy, with his agent, regarding bookings on the lecture circuit, and appearances, in the Toronto region. I can’t remember how much earnings it was, but if memory serves me right, it had potential to yearly equal or exceed his actual, already inflated, salary! Dreger speculated that the huge salary offer and many lucrative business opportunities probably swayed Babcock in the Toronto direction.
What if Stamkos thinks similarly? It’s fairly natural to wonder in light of others.
I don’t believe he will get 8 years in Tampa he was very mediocre in the playoffs and non existing in the finals you can not tie up 10m per year for 8 years they can use that money in other ways,and he will be on the wing that’s where his future is.
maybe we should look at what PK is doing with his high profile hes cashing in on many things you could say hes the Jordan or Woods of hockey
Just sayin
Exactly, McDavid sell in Rogers products and services is probably a pretty nice chunk of change aswell. JVR and Bozak selling tablets. How many Bell comercial you think Stamkos could do in a week or 2 if he lived in Toronto? What do you think pays him more Bell or the endorsment deal for Larrys Buy Your Gold and Pawn official Jewler of the Tampa Bay Lightning ?
what was marner thinking 3 mins left Canada about to go on a pp and he takes just a stupid penalty !!
apparently he wasnt
as well as 4 other canadian players
all emotional, rookie mistakes in international rules
BH want a player how about either Chara or Seindenberg
The Blackhawks do so well because they draft very well/get very lucky at the draft. They then have a handful of EL contracts (or first non-EL deals) where players are playing well beyond their cap hits. Then you have 3 or so guys each at $1M going to resign for $5M, so they get shipped out. This has happened twice with Chicago in 5 years. As long as they keep drafting well it will keep cycling like that. Not something to be too bothered by though.