NHL superstar hits the market! Will Stamkos leave Tampa?
Dmitry Storozhev June 28, 2024, 23:15 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
The Lightning cannot reach an agreement with their captain.
Shortly before the start of the 2024 NHL Draft ceremony, the first news bomb of the offseason exploded in the league: expert Pierre Lebrun published the words of agent Steven Stamkos, who said that his client would become a free agent on July 1. Does this mean that the veteran captain and leader of Tampa Bay will soon leave his hometown club, with which he won the Stanley Cup twice?
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Well, there is still no clear answer to this question. History knows many cases where NHL superstars entered the free agent market, unable to reach an agreement with their employer when it opened, but then signed a new deal and remained in the same place. There is no need to look far for an example: two years ago, Evgeni Malkin also did not renew his employment contract with Pittsburgh and at some point found himself in the status of an unrestricted free agent, but in two weeks “without a club.” He still reached a consensus with the “Penguins” and signed a new four-year contract.
At the same time, Tampa does not want to let Stamkos go, as Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois told reporters shortly before Lebrun’s message to the press: “At the moment, we have not yet been able to reach an agreement. I don’t know if we can reach an agreement, but we met with Stephen’s agent yesterday. Both parties are interested in reaching an agreement, but so far we cannot reach agreements that are satisfactory to both parties. “I think it would be better if I refrained from making further comments now,” the official said.
Of course, the Lightning still have until July 1 to figure out a way to convince one of the franchise’s premier faces of decades past and present to sign a new contract and continue playing in front of a crowd that has seen all the ups and downs of Stamkos’ career. But so far, things are looking up to the point where the forward will be exploring the market for a more tempting offer.
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Lebrun himself reports on what is becoming a stumbling block in the negotiations: “A short-term deal is not in Tampa’s interest because of the salary cap situation, so the main idea, which I understand is in the interest of both sides to a certain extent, is to agree on a longer period of time to reduce the average annual salary. This is now the focus of the negotiations.
“I assume the Lightning wanted to offer a contract with a cap hit of $3 million over eight years. But the deal won’t get done that way. I imagine Newport Sports (the agency representing Stamkos’ interests – Championship note) would like something closer to $4 or $5 million, depending on how long the deal is.”
It is interesting that Stephen himself has a great desire to stay, but the problems again come down to the financial component, and here the situation is not yet in Tampa’s favor. The Lightning have only a little more than $3 million in reserve for the next season with 18 players on existing contracts, so options above this amount will greatly impair the club’s ability to make the necessary reinforcements – with such options, the southerners will definitely have to part with someone.
By mid-June, Stamkos’ chances of staying looked better:
ESPN: Steven Stamkos likely to stay in Tampa
The 34-year-old striker is unlikely to be short of offers if he hits the market. Insiders report there is interest in Nashville’s Stamkos, with Detroit also being named as a contender for the Canadian forward. In any case, Stephen will definitely not be left without a job: whether his partners are Kucherov and Point, O’Reilly and Josi or Larkin and DeBrincat, even if he remains a player and captain of Tampa, he will definitely be welcome on any team.
We can only watch as this saga unfolds: the offseason has only just begun.
