As the Tampa Bay Lightning prepare for the upcoming season nobody could blame the Lightning front office if some of their thoughts are focused on the 2016 off-season, more specifically the pending free agency of Steven Stamkos.
By Ernie DeFalco
Stamkos will hit the 300 goal mark this season, before his 26th birthday. Stamkos is a goal scorer who can be a cornerstone player in any organization. There were indications last season that Stamkos was not happy with the new head coach in Tampa Bay. His unhappiness stemmed from his move to the wing and his loss of ice time during the playoffs. Don Cherry, as reported by Doug Harrison of CBC Sports. even weighed on the situation.
Stamkos will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2016. Because of his age and scoring prowess, he will be highly sought after in the off-season. Here is a list of some possible destinations.
5. Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers organization has never been shy at making a run at a superstar. The Flyers operate at the cap ceiling and are seemingly in cap trouble every year. Those factors make the chances to acquire Stamkos very difficult.
However, I would not rule out a deal in season if the Flyers were permitted to discuss extension before a deal finalized. The Flyers have a center named Claude Giroux who is pretty darn good and makes a lot of money.
Is there a world where these two stars can be swapped? Probably not. But it would be very un-Flyer like to not even inquire about the young star. More than likely the Flyers continue re-build around Giroux and breakout star Jakub Voracek.
Stamkos never comes close to Philly.
4. New York Rangers
Stamkos is an elite player who deserves a big stage. The New York Rangers can provide that big stage. Problem is the cap.
The Rangers do not have the cap space other teams have. But they will have $9 million or so coming off the books next off-season. Of course that would mean not re-signing Keith Yandle, a player the Rangers traded promising young forward Anthony DuClair for.
That said, if not signing Yandle freed up the money to acquire Stamkos, Ranger fans would not mind too much. But any Stamkos offer would certainly cut into the amount of money available for Chris Kreider who is a restricted free agent at season’s end. Kreider will also be due a nice raise. Like the Flyers, an in-season deal maybe the Rangers best option. The Rangers and Lightning have already proven they are willing to make big name deals during season. What would the big names be this time? Maybe Nash? Maybe Kreider?
Nash, Kreider and Stamkos are not exactly second liners like Martin St. Louis and Ryan Callahan, but there is a history of two teams willing to deal with each other. To acquire Stamkos the Rangers would have to unload a bunch of salary.
One of their current top six defenseman would also be included. With the emergence of recently demoted Brady Skeji the Rangers may actually be able to offer one. And the Lightning could certainly use one.
3. Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres could be a great fit for Stamkos. The Sabres front office is really beginning to build something in Buffalo.
They brought in talented forward Evander Kane and talented defenseman Zach Boogosian last season. The Sabres also brought in the seasoned David Legwand and a young solid center in Ryan O’Reilly. They then drafted the second best player in the draft in Jack Eichel and quite possibly solved their goaltender issue by acquiring Robin Lehrner from the Ottawa Senators.
The Sabres also have a history of diving into the free agent market. Do not expect Buffalo to pursue Stamkos in season. It would make little sense for Buffalo to touch the core, but expect the Sabres to be in the mix this off-season. The Sabres have also been known to go on shopping sprees in the past.
Sadly, the last few big dips into the free agent market have been failures, see Brian Campbell and Ville Leino. But that will not deter the Sabres GM from making a push for Stamkos. Stamkos will not bust.
2. New York Islanders
There has never been a time where the moon and stars have aligned so perfectly for the New York Islanders. The team is on a high, they are loaded with young talent, and have a lot of cap space. They are in a new building desperately trying to sell season ticket packages and corporate suites. It is all there for the taking and that is why Stamkos to the Islanders makes so much sense. The Islanders are one of the few teams on this list that could actually make a run at Stamkos in season, without completely reshaping the current roster. So that option, while unlikely, exists.
Imagine Stamkos on John Tavares’s wing? Tavares turned Matt Moulson into a goal scoring threat. Imagine what he could do for Stamkos who does just fine on his own? The Islanders have the cap room to overwhelm Stamkos with an offer. The question is, will they?
Snow has been content building through the draft. He has also done a nice job of picking off other teams cap casualties, Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy as examples. But building through the draft is not enough. It is time for Snow and the new owners to open the check book. Give the Islanders fans a prize for thier dedication, and give Tavares that winger he justly deserves.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leaf fans have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting for something to get excited about. That wait could soon be over.
The Leafs front office will work diligently over the next year to reshape the lineup and put a product on the ice that the fans in Toronto will be proud of. Part of that plan will include a bid in the Stamkos sweepstakes.
The Leafs front office began “Operation Land Steven Stamkos” last season by shedding the contracts of players like David Clarkson and continued into this summer when they finalized a deal with the New York Islanders which rid the organization of five contracts. The deal brought Michael Grabner to Toronto, a serviceable player making $5 million and just happens to be a free agent at the end of the 2015-2016 season. A total of near $14 million will be coming off of the books in Toronto at the end of the 2016 season, much of which is being paid out to players who will not be in the long term plans of the team. That is a lot of Canadian Dollars that will be freed up.
Leaf fans would be elated if the Ontario native came home. And there is a strong chance he will. And wouldn’t it be a hoot if in 2018 Taveres joins him there? Ouch Isles fans…ouch.
The Stamkos situation will certainly be an entertaining subplot to this NHL season. The powers that be in Tampa have a plan. And that plan could simply be to let it ride. That plan will more than likely push Stamkos out the door into a new shade of blue. The question is, which shade?