Steven Stamkos to the Maple Leafs: Major development emerges
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With NHL Free Agency less than a week away reports are flying in regarding potential free agents including Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos.
Steven Stamkos has been linked to free agency for much of this season. Talks between him and the Tampa Bay Lightning have not gone anywhere to this point. With free agency rapidly approaching NHL insider David Pagnotta provided an update on Steven Stamkos' situation.
Talks between the #GoBolts and Steven Stamkos continue, but his camp tells me his situation is status quo as of this morning. He's eligible to become a UFA on Monday.
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This new development from David Pagnotta has once again ignited the fire of the Toronto Maple Leafs pursuing Steven Stamkos in free agency.
Maple Leafs expected to take another run at Steven Stamkos in free agency
Ever since the end of the season for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning many fans have connected Steven Stamkos to a return home to Toronto.
Steven Stamkos you are a Toronto Maple Leaf
With this in mind will the Toronto Maple Leafs actually be able to bring home Steven Stamkos in a way that makes sense? Currently the Maple Leafs have $18 million in cap space.
They will need to sign several defensemen including Timothy Liljegren, Mark Giordano, TJ Brodie, and others, or find their replacements. They also need help on the wing if they lose out on Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi.
If the Maple Leafs decide to go after Steven Stamkos they would once again be prioritizing offensive upgrades over defensive ones. In the past, this has come back to bite the Maple Leafs but for a player as good as Steven Stamkos, it could be worth it.
The negotiations will all come down to how much Steven Stamkos wants and how much of a priority the Maple Leafs believe adding depth to their forward group needs to be. If they feel a need to be more offensive then Steven Stamkos could land back home for the 2024-25 NHL season.
Previously on HockeyPatrol
POLL |
25 JUIN | 680 ANSWERS Steven Stamkos to the Maple Leafs: Major development emerges Will the Toronto Maple Leafs end up signing Steven Stamkos? |
Yes | 222 | 32.6 % |
No | 458 | 67.4 % |
LIST OF POLLS |
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