Where will Stamkos end up?

[mdubz]

With negotiations between Steven Stamkos and Tampa Bay not happening, all indications point to Stamkos testing free-agency and/or even being traded at the deadline.

It has been repeated many a time over the past few weeks that Steven Stamkos, as he contemplates his future, holds all the cards due to the no-movement clause in his expiring contract.

Should he remain unsigned closer to the Feb. 29 trade deadline, the Tampa Bay Lightning will be at his mercy as to whether he’d be willing to provide a list of teams he'd be willing to get dealt to or not.

And that’s if Tampa Bay would ever be willing to move him.

But the point is: Stamkos is in full control.

Where do you predict Stamkos will end up after July 1?

[saXon]

Dreger and the rest of the center of the universe want it to be Toronto.

Not sure that'll happen. Maybe Babcock will whisper sweet nothings into his ear (or his agent's).

[The Yen Man]

He's going to troll everyone and go to the Panthers to play with Jags.

[CroFlames]

Could you imagine if Stamkos just walks away and Tampa gets nothing? Yikes.

[IGGYFORMVP]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Could you imagine if Stamkos just walks away and Tampa gets nothing? Yikes.

I can imagine it all right. Were you a Flames fan in the 90's?

[1qqaaz]

He'll sign in Toronto for 10 million a year, then get 50 points a year for the next 8 years.

[Coach]

Toronto. They are going to pay through the ass for him with no regard for what it will do to them long term. As much as I like Stamkos, it'll be hilarious to watch him make $12m/year while the team goes absolutely nowhere.

[skudr248]

Calgary, just to piss Toronto off

[Huntingwhale]

Probably the NYR is what I'm predicting. I would love it it was some random place no one expects, like Nashville or St. Louis.

I hope he goes to UFA. He will be the biggest UFA in league history I think. In his prime at 26. Potential franchise player. Guys like him simply don't make it to UFA status at his age. It will be interesting to see his next contract and what a guy like him could get as the league max.

[CroFlames]

If he tests FA, how magical would it be if he signed in Calgary?

I mean, yeah he's scored 60 goals before, but he's not even a point per game player over his career (520 pts, 524 gp). He's only got 22 points this year, two less than Monahan and 11 less than Johnny. I think the Flames should put in a reasonable offer to him during FA and see how it pans out. Maybe he likes what he sees in CGY and forgoes more money to play with a young core.

I think TO will probably offer him 10 million, and as far as I am concerned, that is an overpayment.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Yeah I think everyone knows it'll be Toronto. It was pretty funny that tsn had a segment last night and Toronto wasn't even an option.

[Benched]

if/when Tampa loses him for nothing...that is horrible asset management.

those no-move no-trade clauses coming back to haunt them.

[AcGold]

Toronto because they're going to overpay and every other team knows he's not worth 8 million. He'll take 10-11 and laugh, most frequently overrated player in the league at the moment.

[Harry Lime]

Some Russian oligarch will offer him 20M to play in one of those weird KHL cities.

3/year 60M - Oagliformscht-Schlat Dinosaurs.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Could you imagine if Stamkos just walks away and Tampa gets nothing? Yikes.

They get the cap space, which is no small thing.

[Parallex]

I think Toronto is the safe bet. They have the money, the corporate support (endorsements), and the cap space to get it done and the prospects they can promote to field a competative team despite the top-loaded salary.

[CaptainCrunch]

There's no way that Stamkos won't test free agency, and there's no way that he won't get the maximum dollar deal and maximum term, so now it comes down to which teams can afford a $10 million dollar player, and whether he's more interested in winning or real estate.

Toronto and probably Montreal will go hard after him, they're almost obligated to by their fan base. I would expect that a team like the Flyers will take a heavy run at him as well.

I don't think that Calgary should even bother unless we want to gut our depth.

[skudr248]

He is going to get more than those hideous Suter + Parise contracts, I can't wait to see what sucker forks that up

[cannon7]

Stamkos is trending downwards as a player. The Leafs can have him.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

There's no way that Stamkos won't test free agency, and there's no way that he won't get the maximum dollar deal and maximum term, so now it comes down to which teams can afford a $10 million dollar player, and whether he's more interested in winning or real estate.

Toronto and probably Montreal will go hard after him, they're almost obligated to by their fan base. I would expect that a team like the Flyers will take a heavy run at him as well.

I don't think that Calgary should even bother unless we want to gut our depth.

Like I said, the Flames should offer him a team friendly deal. Who knows, maybe he bites. If not, then we throw our heads back and laugh at the sucker GM who overpays him and his team crumbles because he can't pay anyone else.