More speculation over the futures of Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Drouin, while the New Jersey Devils could welcome back Lee Stempniak via free agency.
Speculation persists over the respective futures of Lightning forwards Steven Stamkos (left) and Jonathan Drouin.
TSN 1050 (VIA TODAY’S SLAPSHOT): Bob McKenzie recently speculated Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos hasn’t decided anything yet. Stamkos is eligible for UFA status in July and the subject of season-long conjecture over his future. The better the Lightning and Stamkos performs over the remainder of this season, the more pressure both sides will face to get a deal done. McKenzie notes the Lightning have to be careful with their cap space as they’ve got other key players to re-sign over the next couple of years, while Stamkos could find it difficult to leave a potential Stanley Cup contender. McKenzie doubts any rival club (like the Toronto Maple Leafs) can determine via back-channel inquiries to determine what Stamkos is going to do.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Just when you thought we’d have a reprieve from the seemingly endless speculation out of Toronto regarding Stamkos’ future and if he might sign with the Maple Leafs this summer, here we go again.
I believe Stamkos and the Lightning want to get a deal done, but determining if they can afford to re-sign him and how that could affect efforts to re-sign other key players remains the sticking point. It could be another three months before we get a better view on the direction of his contract talks. Negotiations could carry on up to the opening of the UFA market on July 1, perhaps even beyond then.
As for Stamkos signing with the Leafs, that’s not a certainty. While the Leafs could certainly afford him, the current management team could decide he doesn’t fit into their plans to rebuild carefully with players they’ve drafted and developed. And while the thought of Stamkos “coming home” to Toronto is a lovely dream for some Leafs fans, he might not be keen to sign with a club that’s currently a long way away from Stanley Cup contention.
ESPN.COM: Pierre LeBrun believes Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Jonathan Drouin did the right thing by ending his holdout following the trade deadline and asking to return to the Bolts’ AHL affiliate in Syracuse. The club had suspended Drouin for staying at home to await a trade instead of skating in Syracuse, but they’ve since lifted the suspension and allowed the winger to return to their farm team. Drouin wouldn’t say if his trade request remains on the table, claiming he’s focused on playing the remainder of this season and will “deal with that stuff in the summer.” That led LeBrun to conclude the request still stands. It’s also possible the Lightning could recall Drouin later in this season or in the playoffs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I think the ship has sailed regarding an amicable resolution between Drouin and the Lightning. I expect he’ll be traded by the NHL Draft weekend in late June.
NJ.COM: Rich Chere speculates the New Jersey Devils opted not to trade pending UFA blueliner David Schlemko at the trade deadline in part because he could factor into their future plans. Schlemko said he can see winger Lee Stempniak (dealt to the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline) possibly returning to the Devils this summer via free agency.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given how well Stempniak has fit in with the Bruins since the trade, I think he could become an affordable short-term replacement for Loui Eriksson when he departs Boston this summer for the riches of free agency.
The Stamkos to Leafs rumours wont stop until he puts pen to paper. I like Steven, always have. Good ole Stouffville boy and Macedonian to boot. As for the Leafs signing him to a 8 year or 6 year contract over 10 plus million would cripple the leafs and we have already been down that road before.
It wouldn’t cripple the Leafs – the Hawks have two guys on these deals – and the Leafs have the money. But, it doesn’t make sense until the rebuild is further along to have anyone on this kind of money. We’re 5 years out at the earliest from contention and why waste $70m on Stamkos’ prime years when they are irrelevant to the Leafs right now?
The two guys signed in Chicago for $10M are difference makers for the Hawks. Stamkos is a really good player, but he is not a difference maker in TB. This is why he has not resigned with the Bolts yet.
We currently suck, seats are somewhat empty…best way to make money now is on merchandise…Stamkos would bring money in that department.
We do not have many players we can use as merchandise selling at this point. Only notable is Morgan Reilly.
Stamkos has had several chances to put the rumour to bed, but he won`t. Whether it`s leverage or a real option for him only Stamkos knows. Personally, I don`t think he`s a good fit at this time. Tho I`d love to see in Toronto, too many other things have to fall in to place. lou has too many other holes to plug first, before signing Stamkos or any other big ticket player.
Agreed. Defence takes the longest to build so would start there, hopefully with this draft
I kinda agree and havent really chamged my mind on it but another way it could be looked at, maybe it does make some sense. Depemdimg on what else happems this offseason with some others if they were to buyout Lupul possibly move Bozak the Leafs could almost take a salary on like that and it just puts them above the floor, also it takes some of the stress off the center position and allows them to not even worrying about a guy like Mathews and concentrating their efforts on build D thru the draft as for a few years combinations of Stamkos Kadri Nylander Holland Gauthier is far from being bad they are getting close to set on the wimg and may actually be in a position of strength when you consider Kapinen Brown Shoshinkov Marner Liepsic Hyman Levio Johanssen Lindberg…the pool of forwards is quite deep and over 20 picks over the next 2 years…SIgning Stamkos could make it possible to use some assets to concentrate on 1 position and could possibly speed thr rebuild up. Reason I dont like it is Im not sure thzt Stamkos stands up to pressure and scrutiny very well and that kinda contract could be haunting down the road depending on how those guys develop and their contract demands, but in theory Im not sure that using his “prime years” up is really an issue and it could actually in theory work. Again signing Stamkos wouldnt be my choice it seems we have been down this road before but could be more than 1 way to skin a cat.
Indeed Shticky, we have talked this through before but it all depends on how conservative you want to be. Signing Stamkos to me is saying you’re going to contend earlier, I think it’s aggressive.
Small detail: Lupul won’t be bought out, just extends the suffering of him being on the books more years. Only two more of that player, real let down. All that skill, just didn’t respect the game…
Not a Leafs fan by no means but I can’t see why the Leafs wouldn’t take a shot at Stamkos to speed up their rebuild as they have 20 picks in the next two years so they can use these assets to trade for other established players from teams that will be cap strapped come next year. It’s exactly what Buffalo GMTM has stated in an interview that he plans on doing this year. Common sense says with 20 draft choices you can’t sign them all so why not use some of them to acquire players that will help now and into the near future.
Toronto has smart management in place and I can see them go this route as I don’t think Babcock wants 2-3 more seasons like this year.
I’m hoping the Bruins sign Stempniak to a 2 year deal. Also Liles to a 1 year deal. I’d go 2.5 on each one.
stepniak will get more than 2.5 next yr he has had a good yr
A contrarian might say that having been completely torn apart, the relationship between the Lightning and Drouin can be rebuilt to a strong, healthy, and mutually beneficial one. The reasons that the Lightning invested a third overall in him are still valid. The Lightning players have ongoing relationships with him, and knew him before…in a new organization he’d have a lot to prove and their would be some doubters, and a Lot of angst if he didn’t perform immediately. The Lightning have the currency of a two game callup that would be worth millions to him available as a sign of their sincerity if circumstances warrant. Its possible a significant agitant has been removed and thinks will proceed more normally now.
Hard to understand why they even drafted him.
hindsight is 20/20…
I still think the leafs should have drafted hanifan or provorov instead of marner but time will tell
I think they wanted the extra assurance of another winger in case nyl doesn’t pan out
Secondly, skills aside…hanifan seems a little too soft & marner too gilmourish to resist
my opinion
assbackwards… I don’t know how much you have seen of hanifan but soft he is not!
I would of taken Hanifin as well….but Marner might be a diamond in the rough and are scouts know him very well.
As a Leaf fan I wouldn’t take Stamkos for more than 8.5. He can make lots of money from endorsements. More than that cripples the salary structure. I also don’t see him as a center that can stand up to the big guys in the west. In a perfect world I think he is a winger. In regard to Mathews if they are lucky enough to get him the Leafs should give consideration to trading him to Arizona as long as they at least get Strome and their 1st. That is if Mathews isn’t considered much better than Strome? Once the future big center is acquired they need to decide if they have their goalie for the future. Right now I don’t see anything but backups. They might have to use a 2nd rounder or two for this purpose. I only see two top four defensemen on the team but if they get Zhaitzov there are a number of prospects (including Valiev, Dermott, and the WHL guy) that could be at least second pairing. I expect that they use a draft pick(s)to get a really good defense prospect. I also hope they are serious about trading picks for first and second year prospects with an upside. Guys like Drouin but not him. Leafs have enough small skilled guys.
Stamkos is currently ranked 3rd among nhl players for endorsements (1.7 million per year. ) The top 10 endorsed players all currently play south side of the border. I can’t see Stamkos endorsements rising that significantly to adjust for the tax differential between Florida and Toronto. He’d be better off taking 8.5 from Tampa.
I bet more endorsements here in Toronto.
And Stamkos would likely be thehighest paid NHL plary salary wise and likely be the highest in endorsement money by a long shot if he was to play in Toronto.
who really knows who is going to win the cup next year apparently all the media people do but any team can make changes annd make a run at the cup