Steven Stamkos will not be on the move before the NHL trade deadline. No one can be so sure about that when it comes to dozens of other pending free agents in play leading up to Feb. 29.
Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman squelched the speculation around Stamkos by releasing a statement saying he will not trade his captain before the deadline and will continue to try to sign him to a contract extension.
While Tampa Bay are Stanley Cup contenders unwilling to risk losing Stamkos, sellers like the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs are ready to cash in on a thin market.
Photo: AP
Having already traded defenseman Dion Phaneuf, the Maple Leafs are well-positioned for a fire sale with goaltender James Reimer, defenseman Roman Polak, forwards Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, Michael Grabner, Brad Boyes and Shawn Matthias all set for unrestricted free agency. Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello did not know how active he would be, but it is safe to say that with an eye on the future, Toronto should be able to stockpile draft picks and prospects.
The Winnipeg Jets could do well for themselves if they choose to trade left winger Andrew Ladd, the team’s captain who’s also set to become a free agent.
General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff re-signed defenseman Dustin Byfuglien to a US$38 million, five-year deal, but said during a recent radio appearance that “there’s probably either a deal to be had or a trade to be made” with Ladd.
Because of the circumstances of teams re-signing their top players (like the Los Angeles Kings with Anze Kopitar) and the standings being so tight, Ladd could be among the biggest names traded. All but six teams are within eight points of a playoff spot, making the final couple of weeks a time for soul-searching.
“The first thing you’ve got to decide between now and the trade deadline: Do I want to buy, do I want to sell or do I want to stand pat?” Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said in a telephone interview on Monday. “And if I’m a buyer, what do I need? What am I looking for? I’m not just going to go out and buy.”
The pickings could be slim for buyers. Among those lottery bound, the Buffalo Sabres could deal veteran center David Legwand or defenseman Mike Weber, the Calgary Flames have 32-year-old winger Jiri Hudler to dangle and the Edmonton Oilers have winger Teddy Purcell as a bargain option.
“In most cases at the trade deadline, it’s depth,” Holland said. “It’s usually bottom-pair defensemen, it’s usually bottom-six forwards. There might be the odd trade or two where it’s a player that’s a top-six forward or a top-four defenseman.”
That is where the Stamkos situation was the most fascinating. His contract situation with Tampa Bay is being watched carefully around the league, and plenty of teams will be lining up to pay him if he becomes a free agent on July 1 — most notably the Maple Leafs, Sabres and Montreal Canadiens.
As a trade target, Stamkos was a chance at hitting a home run. Teams wanting to single or double at the deadline could look at someone like Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis or Canadiens defenseman Tom Gilbert.
Hamhuis was on Canada’s undefeated gold-medal-winning Sochi Olympic team two years ago and is back after missing 21 games with facial fractures after getting hit by a puck.
Keith Yandle of the Rangers could also be in play if fellow defenseman Ryan McDonagh is healthy and New York wants to recoup some value.
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