2015/2016 Trade Speculation and Rumors

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by codynw

Despite his goal totals last year, he wasn't actually that good. Go read what Lightning fans think about Stamkos and his pending free agency. They watch him play 82+ games per year and (depending on cap hit, obviously) many don't want him back. They think the cap space will be better spent elsewhere.

Tough fans!

With all due respect to Tampa hockey fans (did I really just type that?). I think hard stats trump the eye test. If he can play badly and still score 42, that's impressive.

He might be experiencing an Iginla like relationship with fans, whereby fat guys like me that have never played a sport at a high level critique one of the finest athletes in the NHL. Yeah, that's probably it.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Stamkos will be a Leaf this time next season. No need to even speculate on him being a Flame or anywhere else. You could see the Leafs intentions this offseason was to clear up as much cap space as possible to make a run at him and it's always been his dream to play for the Leafs. Much like with Babcock to Toronto this one seems like one of those rumours that will finally come to fruition.

The side story here could be, if they want to clear salary for next year and nobody will give up an asset for Bernier (and worth less than nothing) than maybe they'll swap Hiller for Bernier? Free's up more $tamko$

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Tough fans!

With all due respect to Tampa hockey fans (did I really just type that?). I think hard stats trump the eye test. If he can play badly and still score 42, that's impressive.

He might be experiencing an Iginla like relationship with fans, whereby fat guys like me that have never played a sport at a high level critique one of the finest athletes in the NHL. Yeah, that's probably it.

It's not that Stamkos isn't great, it's that he's not as great as the money he wants (10-11 million a year).

Don't forget that a bunch of years ago we couldn't justify keeping 39 goal / 41 assist Mike Cammalleri on roster for 6M/Y (10.5% of the salary cap) which is equivalent now to about 7.5M AAV (or what we should pay Johnny). If that's 43 goal / 29 assist Stamkos' real value, then 10M is way, way higher than what he's worth. This isn't 60 goal Stamkos with MSL feeding him all night.

Cammalleri was important but was he a franchise player? Is Stamkos a franchise player?

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

With all due respect to Tampa hockey fans (did I really just type that?). I think hard stats trump the eye test. If he can play badly and still score 42, that's impressive.

You're right!

And this season, the stats and the eye test are saying the same thing. "Meh" (at least compared to what people expect out of Stamkos, I'm not saying he's bad).

At this point, the name is bigger than the player and any team that backs up the money truck for Stamkos is gonna regret it.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by codynw

At this point, the name is bigger than the player and any team that backs up the money truck for Stamkos is gonna regret it.

I highly doubt that.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I highly doubt that.

Okay.

[Badgers Nose]

Yeah, I better not get my hopes up.

Much more likely they are dealing for Bernier. Too bad Bishop was not playing.

Or might there be other Burke era players on the Leafs coming this way? Hence the meeting of the minds at the ACC last night.

Lupul? Two more years on a big contract. But I've always considered him a good character guy.

Who else could they be taking a look at?

[JurassicTunga12]

^James van Riemsdyk?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Fischy13

Some Mike Straw guy reporting this:

Told the #Sabres have reached out to CAL about David Jones and AZ about Boedker. Nothing close/being negotiated, but feelers have been sent

Can't really see BT moving a RW when it's a organization weakness, especially with Frolik getting injured as well... Maybe as he's a UFA..

Boedker is another player that draws a lot of penalties while taking few himself. I would love if the Flames made a pitch for him if he is available.

[Inferno]

I'd have no issues with the Flames taking a chance on Bernier. Ramo and Hiller have been just as bad this season and maybe a change of scenery would be all he needs.

[dissentowner]

In regards to Stamkos, from everything I have heard I don't think Tampa will even get the option to deal him because he wants to take one more run in TB this year before trying out UFA. Sucks for the organization but if that is his choice there is not much they can do about it.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by JurassicTunga12

^James van Riemsdyk?

I would think that would be a bad move to trade JVR if your target UFA is Stamkos in the off season. Those two would be stellar line mates IMO.

Goalies would be what CGY is looking at I hope. Thats chink in the Flames armor. I wouldn't think Lupul would be something the Flames look at with those two and a half seasons reamaining of 5.25m a year cap hit.

Grabner makes a ton of sense IMO. Especially now with Frolik out for an unspecified amount of time.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

It's not that Stamkos isn't great, it's that he's not as great as the money he wants (10-11 million a year).

Don't forget that a bunch of years ago we couldn't justify keeping 39 goal / 41 assist Mike Cammalleri on roster for 6M/Y (10.5% of the salary cap) which is equivalent now to about 7.5M AAV (or what we should pay Johnny). If that's 43 goal / 29 assist Stamkos' real value, then 10M is way, way higher than what he's worth. This isn't 60 goal Stamkos with MSL feeding him all night.

Cammalleri was important but was he a franchise player? Is Stamkos a franchise player?

You seriously compared Cammi to Stamkos? Career wise (at this point in their careers) they are not even close. If they boths stopped today, even with an 8 year head start Cammi is just barely ahead in points and has scored fewer goals.

When Flames let Cammi go first time it was because of cap problems and then second time it was because he was old and no one in the league would give up much to take him - so it was better to just keep him.

Stamkos is 25 and has scored 20 goals in a season 7 times already (including two 40, one 50 and one 60). In 2009 Cammi had put up nowhere near the same production and was a couple of years older to boot.

As for whether Stamkos is worth $11 million times 8; the danger is reading too much into agent/media posturing. That question will be answered when he signs. If he signs for $9 million * 8 I would say that is a good deal in today's NHL.

But if he gets $80 million and he becomes a 30+ goal guy for the next 8 years the answer is an easy yes.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by JurassicTunga12

^James van Riemsdyk?

JVR would be cool in a Flames uni.

Originally Posted by dammage79

I would think that would be a bad move to trade JVR if your target UFA is Stamkos in the off season. Those two would be stellar line mates IMO.

Goalies would be what CGY is looking at I hope. Thats chink in the Flames armor. I wouldn't think Lupul would be something the Flames look at with those two and a half seasons reamaining of 5.25m a year cap hit.

Grabner makes a ton of sense IMO. Especially now with Frolik out for an unspecified amount of time.

Yeah the Bernier/Grabner package makes sense.

Grabner got hot when he was moved to the Islanders, maybe he needs a chip on his shoulder. The minute he is traded form TO an army of media will blast him and say TO ripped off whatever team receives him. Motivation should not be a problem after that.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

You seriously compared Cammi to Stamkos? Career wise (at this point in their careers) they are not even close.

It's not as simple as comparing careers though. It's about what have you done for me lately and Stamkos without MSL is not that awesome Ovechkin-level individual superstar worth 10M a year. His current value is less than Tarasenko in my eyes, and Tarasenko's value is 7.5M a year. It seems Steve Yzerman agrees.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Yeah the Bernier/Grabner package makes sense.

Grabner got hot when he was moved to the Islanders, maybe he needs a chip on his shoulder. The minute he is traded form TO an army of media will blast him and say TO ripped off whatever team receives him. Motivation should not be a problem after that.

This is 3rd or 4th hand info, but IIRC we actually tried to trade up to draft Grabner (the year we took Irving).

[Benched]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

It's not as simple as comparing careers though. It's about what have you done for me lately and Stamkos without MSL is not that awesome Ovechkin-level individual superstar worth 10M a year. His current value is less than Tarasenko in my eyes, and Tarasenko's value is 7.5M a year. It seems Steve Yzerman agrees.

This.

Stammer is good, but he was great. Maybe he can be again...but he hasn't inpired me with confidence.

Sort of crazy that if the Olympics was this year maybe stamkos and Crosby don't make the team.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

It's not as simple as comparing careers though. It's about what have you done for me lately and Stamkos without MSL is not that awesome Ovechkin-level individual superstar worth 10M a year.

Bang-on, and I would add to that: even WITH MSL he wasn't on par with Ovechkin.

This is a truly gifted offensive forward but he's not a diamond in the rough.

If you asked me if I'd rather have 1 Stamkos for 10 million or 2 50 point guys for 5. I'm taking the two. He isn't a game changer, and if all he brings is offence then you can easily replace that same amount for 10 million.

[sureLoss]

Chris Nichols @NicholsOnHockey
McKenzie: We said recently that Kekalainen "was probably listening on Ryan Johansen. They might be more than listening now. We'll see"

[mikephoen]

Stamkos was not very good in the playoffs last year. And he hasn't been great this season either. I'd be very scared to give him 10M+ on a long term deal at this point. That just has the potential to absolutely kill a team if he continues at the pace he's been playing at over the last year or so.