NHL Rumor Mill – December 5, 2023
More speculation on Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, Flames defensemen Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev, and Sharks blueliners Mario Ferraro and Marc-Edouard Vlasic in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SPORTSNET: During their Dec. 4 “32 Thoughts” podcast episode, Elliotte Friedman wondered what would happen with Steven Stamkos if the Tampa Bay Lightning are a playoff bubble team if he isn’t signed to a new contract by the end of this season.
Co-host Jeff Marek noted that Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said at the start of this season that they need to see what the season is going to be like before opening contract talks with Stamkos. Friedman believes teams will call about Stamkos.
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s still a long way to go before the end of this season. Still, it probably won’t be the last time that Stamkos surfaces in the rumor mill. For now, he’s not going anywhere.
Bear in mind that Stamkos still has a full no-movement clause that expires when his current contract does on June. 30. He’ll have complete control over whether the Lightning attempt to trade his negotiation rights during the offseason just as he would if they approached him about moving before the March 8 trade deadline. Time will tell if either possibility takes place.
The pair also discussed Calgary Flames defensemen Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev. Friedman noted that the Arizona Coyotes had shown an interest in Hanifin this year.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: GOPHNX.COM’s Coyotes beat writer Craig Morgan acknowledged the rumors linking the club to Hanifin. While saying the rumor “has some legs”, he also suggested their level of pursuit of the Flames defenseman was “a bit exaggerated.”
Morgan noted that the Coyotes could use a defenseman such as Hanifin. However, if they were to acquire him, it would have to be without giving up any of their top prospects plus they’d have to sign him to a contract extension with a term and salary that would fit within their cost-conscious budget plans.
Regarding Tanev, Friedman noted a couple of people told him that they think the Flames could make another attempt to re-sign him. However, he’s not sure how likely that will be.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Toronto Maple Leafs are believed to be quite keen on acquiring Tanev to shore up their injury-depleted blueline. Whether they can pull it off remains to be seen.
Turning to the San Jose Sharks, Friedman said the Carolina Hurricanes were rumored to have taken a run at acquiring defenseman Mario Ferraro. He’s a talented young player signed for two more seasons with an affordable $3.25 million average annual value. Friedman thinks a lot of teams will be checking into his availability.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The rebuilding Sharks could prefer hanging onto Ferraro if they see the 25-year-old rearguard fitting into their long-term plans. However, they could part with him if they get an irresistible offer.
Friedman also believes the Sharks want to move out Marc-Edouard Vlasic, who’s been a frequent healthy scratch this season. He’s got two more seasons on his contract with an AAV of $7 million plus there are some signing bonuses too.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The only way I see the Sharks moving Vlasic (who has a three-team trade list) is if they’re willing to keep half of his cap hit as they have one retained salary slot left. Even then, they might have to include a sweetener in the deal like a draft pick or prospect.
Vlasic will be 37 in March and is a spent force as an NHL defenseman. I doubt he’ll draw much interest in the trade market. The Sharks might have to bite the bullet and buy him out next June.
So the story is that Toronto wanted Calgary to trade 2 of their top 6 defence men for no assets coming their way and they would pay one half of their contracts. How could Calgary have turned down such a deal! What a load !
lol exactly
Lol. But let’s this even more straight. Let’s trade Tanev and Hanifin for Brodie and Gio.
Par for the course when the “wishful thinkers” let loose, Crazy Canuck.
Minten and a first would have been part of the deal too. Probably Robertson as well.
Tampa in the past watched Stlouis, vinny and brad richards depart
whats different with stamkos
I guess this might as well be a Trono rumor as well.😏😆😆
IMO Stamkos is head and shoulders above those three. During Lecavalier, Richards, and St. Louis’s time with the Lightening, Stamkos was still considered the guy in TBay. Richards was just a tagalong.
I’m not taking anything away from St. Louis, but he doesn’t get his assists without Stamkos pulling the trigger.
Vincent Lecavalier had issues with staying healthy after his 11th season with the Lightening and couldn’t break 50 points in a season. Stamkos in his 14th season is healthy and still over a point-per-game player.
I also believe St. Louis left Tampa to chase another Stanley Cup, but I could be wrong.
Kevjam, this from Wikipedia
“In January 2014, then-Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman, who also served as the general manager for Canada’s team at the 2014 Winter Olympics, elected not to include St. Louis on Canada’s roster. St. Louis was ultimately named to the team as an injury replacement after Steven Stamkos was not medically cleared to play.[39] At the same time, St. Louis requested a trade from Tampa Bay.[40] The no movement clause in his contract gave St. Louis control over where he could be moved and he reportedly consented to only being traded to the New York Rangers, a request he first made in 2009.[41] The Lightning honoured his request, and St. Louis was sent to New York along with a conditional 2015 second-round pick on March 5, 2014, in exchange for Ryan Callahan, a 2015 first-round draft pick, a conditional 2014 second-round pick (which became a first-round pick) and a conditional 2015 seventh-round pick.[42] Both of the first-round draft picks acquired by the Lightning in this trade were eventually traded to the New York Islanders. Though reluctant to speak of his reasons for requesting the trade, he eventually admitted the initial Olympic snub was the primary cause. He felt a lack of respect when Yzerman initially left him off the Canadian team. St. Louis also expressed his regret over the damage the events caused to his relationship with the fans in Tampa.”
In plainer words,the reason he asked to be dealt – ONLY to the NY Rangers on top of that – was because his nose was out of joint.
Oh yeah, that’s right. Now I remember that whole situation. LOL
Thanks George!