Has Stamkos played his last game as a member of the Lightning?

[Mr Positive]

Tampa is dragging it out because they want to sign Hedman first, which they can't do until July, and maybe another piece. They want Stamkos to be in a spot where he has to accept whatever cap is left

 

[PaulD]

Im surprised Tampa is seemingly tossing him to the curb like this. Seems like a foregone conclusion that he’s done there.

If that happens I could see him doing the Pajama Boy thing in Toronto. Although that’d be quite the crappy end to his career ala Thornton, Marleau, Gio, Simmonds etc etc.

Lindros, Francis, Leetch, Gilmour, Roberts,

 

[PaulD]

Tampa is dragging it out because they want to sign Hedman first, which they can't do until July, and maybe another piece. They want Stamkos to be in a spot where he has to accept whatever cap is left

Yep. Tampa has and uses the edge they have. Players love it there. Stamps loves it there. Yzerman let Stamps go test free agency last time. Steve turned down way more money ans chose to stay in Tampa for less. Bolts are betting he will do it again. As they should.

 

[ThunderRoad]

Are people forgetting that he did this 8 years ago then signed like 2 days before free agency??

He's already said this time around is a different situation with him having a family now that is ensconced in the Tampa area and doesn't want to move. And he has said he wants to retire with Tampa. He's definitely going to have to concede $ wise but at least he's acknowledged that and hasn't balked at the idea yet.

With Seabrook's LTIR coming off the books this summer, maybe there is another like contract that can be acquired. Or can they bury Sheary in the minors and take a penalty for it (if can’t find a trade partner)? Like they did Myers this year? And then trade Jeannot since that has not worked out. They can replace de Haan and Fleury with Lilleberg and Crozier officially at around same price (no where ideal for a defensive unit unless those two and Perbix can take big strides forward). Convince Duclair to take little less to remain with team since he seemed to appreciate playing on a line with Kucherov and Point. And they lose Henrique's dead cap this summer (not a huge amount but saves around 1.5M).

Not ideal situation but at least it involves someone who seems more willing to do what has to be done to stay with the team.

Next season having Vasilevskiy back healthy from start is already a boost. He clearly struggled returning from the back surgery but rounded into form by end of the season. And this time around we don't seem to have anyone with long term injury recovery from a long playoff run like the team has had in more recent times - everyone ready to start the season vs coming back months into it.

And they need to get rid of Blashill and that new defensive scheme put in place this year. It clearly didn't work, and it can't be said they grew into it as the season went on.

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

Killhorn is gonna bring him to Ana. Lol

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Yep. Tampa has and uses the edge they have. Players love it there. Stamps loves it there. Yzerman let Stamps go test free agency last time. Steve turned down way more money ans chose to stay in Tampa for less. Bolts are betting he will do it again. As they should.

Taking people for granted isn’t something that a team should do to someone like Stamkos. There are plenty of long tenured players end up elsewhere. You only do this with people you view as expendable.

 

[ShaneinTpa]

I think the target to offload is Anthony Cirelli. His $6.25M as a 3C is costing us way too much space. Trade him, and somehow find a way to offload Sheary and you've got $8.25M to work with, along with whatever Stamkos would make less than his current contract.

The core members of this team are 34, 33, 30, 29, 28, 25, 25. By the time Cirelli is better than Stamkos, the door is all the way shut. Trade him, sign Stamkos, retool the depth guys, and try to give these guys 1 or 2 more runs.

Except Cirelli is the 2C

 

[lettuceAA]

Flames should sign him. Kuzmenko, Sharaogovich and Stamkos would be a lethal PP.