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Steven Stamkos Linked to Surprise Team as Free Agent this Summer
Published March 13, 2024 at 5:58 PM
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Steven Stamkos has been the centre piece of the Tampa Bay Lightning organization for the past 16 years, but now, it appears his time is coming to an end.
Where will Stamkos land in free agency?
While neither the player or the organization have closed the door on an extension for the franchise icon, with all of their big money deals, there may just not be room left for the 34-year old star.
With free agency looming, ESPN's Greg Wyshynski has now revealed a report that links him to the Central Division's Nashville Predators.
"Oh, I heard one the other day that I loved. Nashville. Wouldn't Nashville be great for him?" Wyshynski said.
He went on to say, "Think about where he is. Maybe he's a guy after his time, you know, in the sun, on the jet skis, wants to go play in a super pressure market and get the rub that you'd get when you play in Boston or play in New York or play in Toronto. Or he says, 'I've never wanted that' and goes to another place that has one beat writer like Nashville. I don't know what he wants. I do know they can afford him and I do know that with the maturation with this team, being a playoff team this year, having a good core of young players and a really good coach in Brunette, I think he could do pretty well there as a mentor/guy who can probably score a ton of goals on the wing for them if he wants to."
He went on to say, "Think about where he is. Maybe he's a guy after his time, you know, in the sun, on the jet skis, wants to go play in a super pressure market and get the rub that you'd get when you play in Boston or play in New York or play in Toronto. Or he says, 'I've never wanted that' and goes to another place that has one beat writer like Nashville. I don't know what he wants. I do know they can afford him and I do know that with the maturation with this team, being a playoff team this year, having a good core of young players and a really good coach in Brunette, I think he could do pretty well there as a mentor/guy who can probably score a ton of goals on the wing for them if he wants to."
Between now and the summer, Tampa Bay will be searching for their third Stanley Cup under Stamkos as captain, so there's plenty of time for things to change, but whether it's with Nashville or another team, he may be in a new jersey come the start of the 2024-25 season.
In 1,065 career games, the Canadian star has tallied 1,111 points, becoming one of the most consistent and decorated players in the modern NHL, so while it would be a shock to see him leave the Lightning, he may have no choice this summer.
As Read on Blade of Steel - Central Division team named as potential fit for Steven Stamkos
| POLL | ||
March 13 | 121 answers Steven Stamkos Linked to Surprise Team as Free Agent this Summer Will Stamkos leave Tampa Bay this summer? | ||
| Yes | 73 | 60.3 % |
| No | 48 | 39.7 % |
| LIST OF POLL | ||
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