Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinny01
Ever since Lebron James went back to Cleveland there has been a fascination that star players want to play for their home town team. Big difference here is James actually played for, then bailed, on his home town team before returning to redeem his reputation in his home state.
Toronto media began to speculate that Stamkos would want to do the same thing. I just don't see why a guy wants to leave his contending team to go to a pressure cooker that is a bottom dweller. Stamkos is going to be 26 next year does he really want to go to a team with an incredibly demanding coach, and an even more demanding fanbase and pull them out of the gutter?
If the Leafs do offer him the most money that only adds to the pressure he will have. Kessel faced the barrage in Toronto and only could hold on for so long. Does Stamkos want that pressure only amped up a few notches?
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His team isn't contending and are not reportedly offering him enough money AND insist on him playing a position he does not want to. So I'm sure with all those circumstances you can see why we are in late December and still they are not close on a contract.
And you add Stamkos to Marner and Nylander and a top pick and you have a team that won't be close to a bottom feeder any longer.