[News] Yzerman announces Stamkos will not be traded before deadline

[sureLoss]

http://lightning.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=868872

“As February 29th approaches, I am stating today that Steven Stamkos will not be traded before the NHL’s trade deadline. I have said repeatedly that it is our hope to reach an agreement with Steven on a new contract at some point, and with 27 games remaining in the season, our entire organization, Steven included, wants to focus on making the playoffs. I will keep the negotiating process strictly between the involved parties and have no further comment on the state of those negotiations.”

[Resolute 14]

Yzerman is betting his career on re-signing Stamkos.

[Demetric]

About time

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[Lord Carnage]

Or Stamkos has told him he will not waive his clause, giving Yzerman only one choice - to get out in front and say "he won't be traded...".

[Flash Walken]

I do think there is spite involved in Stamkos' decision not to waive.

He's not doing Yzerman any favours.

[underGRADFlame]

And that sound you hear is the collective erection of the Toronto media...

[Badgers Nose]

With less competition Flames now have a slightly more desirable forward come trade deadline.

#### TBL

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I do think there is spite involved in Stamkos' decision not to waive.

He's not doing Yzerman any favours.

Spite or no reason to move?

Lightning are poised to go deep in the playoffs. He can stay with the lightning and still probably have as good a chance to win a cup as any other team.

[JJ1532]

To be honest, this is probably the best strategy for both parties. Stamkos now can concentrate on getting into the play offs with Tampa and if they have a deep run, he can drive up his value to both the team and any free agency suitors.

For Yzerman, he can get a better handle of how good Stamkos truly is down this stretch and in the play offs. Then he's in a better position to decide whether to offer Stamkos a number/term he can't refuse. Or, if Stamkos doesn't come through, he can maybe let him go to free agency(or trade him for whatever he can get at the draft) with the knowledge that maybe letting him walk to another team isn't such a bad idea.

[Poe969]

I don't think Stevey Y has been that good of a GM. I hope Stamkos leaves and Tampa gets nothing. I hope drouin is traded for peanuts and becomes a star elsewhere. I don't like Tampa.

[TheScorpion]

Oh boy, imagine if he, ahem, bolts in the summer... or should I say, leafs in the summer...

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Yzerman is betting his career on re-signing Stamkos.

If they win the cup, it won't matter if they lose Stamkos IMO. He will have essentially been a rental in that case. A very successful one.

If they miss the playoffs, or are out early, this will look quite bad.

Also, if Stamkos invokes his NMC, I'm not sure you can hold it against Yzerman, though I'm sure some will.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by underGRADFlame

And that sound you hear is the collective erection of the Toronto media...

If you hear a sound, you might want to get that checked out.

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Oh boy, imagine if he, ahem, bolts in the summer... or should I say, leafs in the summer...

Ewww..

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Oh boy, imagine if he, ahem, bolts in the summer... or should I say, leafs in the summer...

Get out.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Oh boy, imagine if he, ahem, bolts in the summer... or should I say, leafs in the summer...

Leaf.

I'd love for Stamkos to sign in a non traditional hockey market like Phoenix lol

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Spite or no reason to move?

Lightning are poised to go deep in the playoffs. He can stay with the lightning and still probably have as good a chance to win a cup as any other team.

Yeah the only way I could see him waiving is if the Lightning were a bad team but why waive your NTC for a lateral move to an unfamiliar team?

[keratosis]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

If you hear a sound, you might want to get that checked out.

Or maybe back up a bit.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Yeah the only way I could see him waiving is if the Lightning were a bad team but why waive your NTC for a lateral move to an unfamiliar team?

And if you think of this from the Lightning perspective they have three options:

-make a lateral move for an unfamiliar top 6 player.
-pull out of the contendership race and do a mini-rebuild and trade a star player for picks and prospects.
-keep Stamkos.

Since the same basic team made the finals last year, I'd probably keep Stamkos if I were Yzerman. Seems like the path of least resistance.

[N-E-B]

I don't get why Stamkos would want to play for the Leafs and I don't get why the Leafs would want Stamkos. I think this whole thing is made up by the media to generate interest in the Leafs while they're bad.