Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos had a frank interview with reporters that appeared on Sportsnet today. In the interview, Stamkos tells reporters that he and the team have yet to start discussions on an extension to his expiring contract. The interview created a buzz and even led Lightning General Manager Julien BriseBois to respond with an interview of his own.
The 33-year-old Stamkos is set to begin his 16th season with the club and is coming off back-to-back productive seasons after he was slowed by injuries for a few years. Stamkos posted 34 goals and 50 assists last season in 81 games and was even better the year before posting 42 goals and 64 assists in 81 games.
It’s no surprise that Stamkos is looking for long-term security after taking a big discount on his last contract to remain in Tampa Bay. Back in June 2016 Stamkos signed an eight-year $68MM extension to remain in Tampa Bay and opted to forego unrestricted free agency. The contract turned out to be a win-win as Stamkos was able to raise the Stanley Cup twice with the Lightning and the team was able to keep their captain at a bargain.
Also of little surprise are Stamkos’ feelings about the situation, Tampa Bay typically engages the players they want to extend well before the completion of their existing deals. This has been modus operandi in the past, and it begs the question as to whether or not they want to extend Stamkos at all.
From Tampa’s perspective, BriseBois was frank with Tampa Bay beat reporter Chris Krenn saying that he wanted to see the season play out before making a decision on Stamkos’ future. He also added that after the season he would work with Stamkos and his agent to hammer out a deal that works for all parties involved.
It should be an interesting season in Tampa Bay as the Lightning are coming off a season in which they took a big step back and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Lightning looked tired at times after three straight runs to the Stanley Cup final, but should be rested this season after a long summer.
8.5 a year on the surface might look like a discount for a big time goal scoring center BUT there is no state tax in Texas and Florida so his 8.5 in Florida is in the 11 neighborhood in Canada and California and 10 in most other places. It should be selling points in Florida and Texas that you make slightly less on the surface but clear the same or more, thus allowing more money to go around the roster and have a bigger contention window
Yeah but then you have to live in Florida.
Best place on earth
That difference is grossly overplayed. First of all, players are taxed on the places they earn their money which means that discount only applies in Florida, Nevada, Tennesse and Texas. Everyone including visiting players are taxed at the site of the game. And, for all of those states that do have a state tax it averages out to about 5%.
Were I get this from is when radulov left Montreal and signed in Dallas. It was a 7.5 per year contract, he said if Montreal marched he would stay. There was a Sportsnet hockey show on saying he would be stupid to do so because for him to clear the same amount of money in MTL as Dallas they would need to sign him to an 11 per year contract and that Florida has the same tax situation. Im fairly certain that California is the closest to Canada tax wise aswell
I just looked into it. On 1 million dollars your taxes 50.8% in Quebec and 38.8% in Dallas. 12% on 6.5 mill is alot per year like 800k and it’s like 4 mil per the life of the contract. I may have been wrong with the numbers I remembered but it’s about 8.1 million per year to match the 6.5 Dallas deal and 40.5 over 5 in MTL to 32.5 In Dallas
Jealous?
Again, you are making that comparison on a player playing ALL his games in Montreal vs Tampa or Dallas. That’s why it is overstated. Stamkos pays the same tax as every player does in the games he plays in Canada and in most American NHL cities. I know Quebec is particularly bad. Maybe they should have separated years ago. LOL. Plus, every market has its warts. I am a Realtor in Tampa and homeowners insurance alone is 400% higher than the national average. Damn storms!
Stamkos will be 34 soon and has played over a thousand games, The writing is on the wall.
Mm. By no means has Stamkos slowed down yet, but he’ll be 33, and Father Time wins every battle. Toss in his extensive injury history, and my notion of a “long term” extension that makes any sense for the team is something like three years tops.
A 2 or 3 year extension for not more than $9.5mil per or he has to be allowed to walk. The Lightning need to get their Salary cap into better shape to be able to keep a deeper roster.
Stammer traded at the deadline to Carolina for Jesperi Kotkaniemi because the Hurricanes are not scoring and the lightning love long mid-value contracts
I get that Stammer would prefer to have his extension done before training camp but he even mentioned in the media day interview how hard the stagnant salary cap has made things. Bottom line, it’s tough for JBB to “get it done” when he does not know how much $ he has to work with. All he has are projections ($83.5 to $87.5, maybe more or less?) and guesses as to how much the cap will go up, nothing definite. Should JBB have extended Stammer before Hagel? Curious what folks think on that one. No disrespect to Stammer but I’m glad Hagel was locked in long-term. And what should Stammer’s next deal look like, 3-4 year term, $7-8m per? Or does his agent Meehan want 8-9.5m per, if that’s the case then it would make sense to wait and hope the cap increase is even more than projected. Regardless, it seems that Stammer’s “disappointed” comment is already making media and fans go into complete “freak” mode which is unfortunate. It’s not even training camp yet, ticks me off. If the whole season ends up being some type of Stammer/Captain watch with endless media speculation/distraction it’s gonna suck. Really hope Stammer (and his agent Donald Meehan/Newport Sports Management) and JBB have an honest discussion, set an extension/communication plan, and nip this distraction in the bud. GO BOLTS!
Agreed, disappointed this came up. As beloved as Stammer is here it’s a business and JBB has to do what is best for the long term health of the Bolts. I hope something can be worked out.
Makes me wonder if this is a preview of Crosby’s next (possibly last) contract with Pittsburgh. Sid is up in ’24/25 and is three years older than Stamkos.