This situation is eerily similar to the Babcock situation last year where there were whispers for years that at the end of his Wings deal he would head to the Leafs. The whispers of Stamkos to Toronto have been going on for years also and it does appear right now if there were betting odds that Toronto would be the odds on landing spot. I believe that there's a chance that the Lightning re-sign him but if he goes to free agency I'm almost 90% certain he would land in Toronto.
He's kind of destined to be the next Mats Sundin where he will put up some very nice statistical seasons while never getting a sniff of a Stanley Cup. I believe Babcock is a good coach but the Wings have actually played better this season than they have over their past few seasons with him as coach and I feel he benefitted from being a cog in the Red Wings wheel of year over year competence. I don't think Stamkos and Babcock are nearly enough to bring a Cup to Toronto.
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