Just days after the Tampa Bay Lightning were defeated by the Chicago in game six of the Stanley Cup final, General Manager Steve Yzerman isn’t hiding where his priorities lie. In fact, he just came out and said it, point blank.
“I’d like to get Steven Stamkos signed to an extension, that’s my number one priority.”
– Steve Yzerman
Stamkos, 25, is headed into the final year of his five-year, $37.5 million contract signed back in 2011. Safe to say, he can expect a pay raise after eight seasons of putting the puck in the net. Averaging 34.5 goals per season over his career, Stamkos’ 276 career goals ranks him at second in goals scored since the 2008-09 season. Behind just Alex Ovechkin (312), Stamkos has out-scored the likes of Corey Perry (237), Rick Nash (224) and Patrick Marleau (218).
While Marleau ($6.8 million) makes slightly less than Stamkos, and Nash ($7.8 million) makes slightly more, Stamkos could be in line to make upwards of $8.5 million and closer to $10 million per season. While Ovechkin makes $9.5 million, Yzerman could be faced with the reality of signing his star goal-scoring forward to a lucrative deal along the lines of what Chicago Blackhawks forwards Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are making. Can the Tampa Bay Lightning afford a $10 million dollar forward on their roster?
Braydon Coburn and 38-year-old Mattias Ohlund are both off the books after next season. While it opens up some gaps on defense, it also grants Yzerman just over $8 million dollars in cap space. There are some inexpensive options that could become fixtures in the Lightning’s line-up, when looking at their prospect pool. In another year or two, perhaps one of their up-and-coming defensemen is ready to make the jump permanently. With veterans like Matthew Carle, Jason Garrison and Anton Stralman, as well as a matured Victor Hedman, Tampa’s defense could be a perfect home for a young defenseman ready to learn the ropes.
There will be trouble for Tampa if they do indeed put all their money towards Stamkos. Nikita Kucherov‘s contract is up after next season, like Stamkos. His linemates, Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson, see their contracts expire in two seasons. Those three players composed the best line in the league last season and a threatening one in the playoffs as well. They’ll be seeking big money too, and with a team that already pays Ryan Callahan $5.8 million until the 2019-20 season and Valterri Filppula for another three years at $5 million, we could be looking at an expensive forward group.
This is also not taking into account their current restricted free agents in Mark Barberio, Andrej Sustr, Luke Witkowski and Vladislav Namestnikov, or a few more depth players who are looking for new contracts after next season.
Handing Stamkos the same money as Towes and Kane, or close to, could be playing with fire. Then again, watching how Chicago built their team around seven players and then surrounded them with inexpensive depth and young prospects, and then watching them win three Cups in six years, it may not be such a bad option to consider. If you’re looking at a core of Stamkos, the TKO line, Hedman and Ben Bishop between the pipes, you have a solid foundation to build on, a few prospects to work with and possibly a handful in millions on the cap to bring in veteran depth and experience.
The best thing about Steven Stamkos is the evolution of his game over the years. The Tampa captain has developed a physical edge to his game, throwing his weight around and finishing last year’s post-season with 62 hits. His work ethic, his willingness to go both ends of the ice and show as much effort to back-check as he puts into scoring, Stamkos has truly become one of the best players in the NHL.
Time will tell if he is paid like one.
In closing, Yzerman and Stamkos are sure to hammer out some sort of deal that keeps him in Tampa Bay for the long-term and possibly his career. If you ask Stamkos himself, it sounds like he’s content with being a member of the Lightning.
“Players, coaching staff, management, ownership, this is one of the best groups I’ve ever played on. I’ve been here for so long, this is my home now. It’s been unbelievable for me to see the transition here, and it starts with [Jeff] Vinik, the owner here. I know there’s going to be a lot of questions about what’s going to happen in the next couple of weeks, but those things will be taken care of in time.”
