Where will Stamkos end up?

[Jbo]

As long as he stays in the East, I'm happy.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by IGGYFORMVP

I can imagine it all right. Were you a Flames fan in 2004?

fyp

[Erick Estrada]

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.

[Hemi-Cuda]

One of the most overrated players in the league joins the most overrated coach in the league on the most overrated team in the league. It's destiny

[polak]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

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

3/year 60M - Oagliformscht-Schlat Dinosaurs.

Oagliformscht already have too many foreign players. They also have a strict no blondes policy and Oagliformschtians HATE people from Unionville and vice versa. Can't see a fit.

[crapshoot]

Really bad timing for Stamkos to play mediocre hockey this season if he wants 10+ million. Perhaps someone will be stupid enough to throw all that money at him anyway, but the fact that he's not even on pace for 30 goals or 60 points this season, after not being a ppg player last season, should make GMs think twice.

[psyang]

Offer a 1-2 year bridge deal at a very team-friendly price with the hook that he will be able to put good numbers together (and earn his mega contract) by playing with Gaudreau.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by crapshoot

Really bad timing for Stamkos to play mediocre hockey this season if he wants 10+ million.

.

Will have zero effect on his next contract IMO, there will be teams lined up to offer him a massive contract.

His agent is aware of it.

Challenge is with all of the hype around Toronto, how can Tampa trade the player......

If he truly won't resign.

[saillias]

All this hype about Toronto yet I'd put my money on the Rangers. It's always the Rangers.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

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

That is exactly what will happen. I have no doubt he will sign with Toronto as a UFA. He is not going to waive, he thinks the team they have has a legit shot at going far. The best TB can hope for is he helps them win the Cup this year. They also will open up plenty of cap space.

[CroFlames]

if all the signs point to TOR, why doesn't TBay and TOR do a trade.

I would feel a touch bad for Tbay if their biggest star just walked away and they got nothing. Trade him for a 4th rounder or something at least.

[dissentowner]

I'm sorry but the Babcock bashing in this thread is ridiculous. Guy is a fantastic coach and the guy currently behind the Wings bench does everything the same way. he Leafs have a system and are scoring well with an absolute crap roster, that is Babcock.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

if all the signs point to TOR, why doesn't TBay and TOR do a trade.

I would feel a touch bad for Tbay if their biggest star just walked away and they got nothing. Trade him for a 4th rounder or something at least.

Because Stamkos would have to approve it and even if his heart is set on going to Toronto why would he walk away from a team that has a chance to compete this season in TB as well as cost his future team any kind of assets while helping the future of the team he is leaving? It makes no sense.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I'm sorry but the Babcock bashing in this thread is ridiculous. Guy is a fantastic coach and the guy currently behind the Wings bench does everything the same way. he Leafs have a system and are scoring well with an absolute crap roster, that is Babcock.

They also have a league-worst 10 wins.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

They also have a league-worst 10 wins.

Again, overachieving for that roster. The Leafs should be easily the worst team in the NHL this year. They are in a rebuild but they are playing a much more structured better game than anytime in recent years.

[doctajones428]

I foresee him signing with Dallas while him, Benn and Seguin form Team Canada's future top line and proceed to absolutely decimate every team in the league with 100+ points each for the next decade

[madmike]

I know he loves the Leafs, but man the pressure on him would be insane. I'm just not sure he'd want to deal with it.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by madmike

I know he loves the Leafs, but man the pressure on him would be insane. I'm just not sure he'd want to deal with it.

How he'll deal

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

if all the signs point to TOR, why doesn't TBay and TOR do a trade.

Why on earth would Toronto do that? They won't make the playoffs this year (with or without Stamkos) so why not just ride out the season and get Stamkos for free on July 1?

[DJones]

Everything seems to point to Toronto.

I think 10 million is too much for any player. Especially one on a down year.