By trading away defenseman Mikhail Sergachev and forward Tanner Jeannot earlier this afternoon, the Tampa Bay Lightning have $11.165MM more to work with this summer than they did 24 hours ago. Much of the early conjecture perceived the cap-clearing moves as the Lightning making a concerted effort to keep captain Steven Stamkos in Tampa Bay for the rest of his career.
We now know that is not the case as the Lightning never increased upon their original eight-year, $3MM AAV extension offer to Stamkos, as Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports confirms that the star forward will reach the free agent market for the first time in his career on Monday. In a clear case of pivoting away from their captain, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes Tampa Bay made their moves today to pursue Jake Guentzel once free agency opens up on July 1st (Article Link).
Before eventually signing his most recent eight-year, $68MM extension with the Lightning, Stamkos was poised to be the hottest name on the free agent market heading into the 2016-17 NHL season. Despite never hitting the open market, the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto Maple Leafs were all interested in signing Stamkos nearly a decade ago. However, with Stamkos signing his contract on June 29th, 2016, he was prohibited from negotiating with any other team.
This time, Stamkos will earn the ability to talk to all 32 teams before finally deciding on his future. The Nashville Predators have been the most heavily linked to Stamkos so far, but the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Red Wings, and Utah Hockey Club, among others, will all have interest in signing the star player. This does not count out the Lightning organization either as they will be in contact with Stamkos and his camp in the coming days.
On the other side of the report, the Lightning join the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, and Canucks as teams that are pursuing Guentzel this summer. The 29-year-old winger is coming off a season that saw him score 30 goals and 77 points in 67 games with 25 of those points coming in 17 games with Carolina after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, Guentzel continued as a strong performer as he registered four goals and nine points through 11 games.
If Tampa Bay can sign Guentzel once free agency opens on July 1st, they will potentially start the 2024-25 NHL season with the best first line in the league. Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov are in no danger of losing their spots on the team’s first line — and adding Guentzel to it will have opposing teams scrambling to match up against it.
Both players’ situations will unfold over the next 48 hours but one item remains clear. After bowing in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs two years in a row, the Lightning are not afraid to make tough decisions to extend their contention window.
I’mma say it because no one else in the media will… Guentzel is overrated. But by all means, Tampa, PLEASE be another Toronto and handcuff yourself with a stacked top line.
You’re not in the media. Would love to know how you have determined he’s overrated.
At least in Tampa’s case they’re getting slightly below market value on some forwards, unlike Toronto.
$9.5M might be $4M less than what Kucherov could make elsewhere. $6.5M is highway robbery for Hagel. Even Point’s $9.5M is fine.
I kind of agree with you on Guentzel though. If he comes in at a crazy AAV then it undermines the savings elsewhere.
Is that you Kyle Dubas?
nah. we already have mr overrated. his name isn’t guentzel, it’s victor hedman.
I have no idea what my post has to do with the Pittsburgh GM.
Sergachev signs an 8×8 and then they trade him a year later.
So what’s convincing Guentz that he’s immune to the same? NMC I guess. Still stinks
Ya it was a bad year for guys signing longer term deals last year only to be moved so quickly. Korpisalo already gone, Jarry could be soon behind him. And poor Michael Bunting didnt even make it through a full season in Carolina before being shipped out.
STamkos to Vancouver sounds awesome
I kinda want to see Stamkos and Tanev on the same team, because that might be the first time we’ve had two Macedonian-Canadians playing together in the NHL. XD
Did they seriously only offer him 24 million total over 8years? Thats crazy disrespectful since his last contract they underpaid him too. Thats a bad look. They must have never really thought he’d sign that, so why even offer such a disrespectful contract?
@bighiggy
How much more do they need to go, 8@24 seems reasonable for a guy hitting 33, I can see 8@30 but that’s because of legacy but as great as stamkos is Father Time always wins.
Tell that to Ovechkin, he didn’t slow down until just this past season, and Stammer is ten times the player that Ovi ever was
That contract offer (if true) is insulting
Not disrespectful at all. They offered him an 8 year deal. He’s 34, he will not play 8 more years. They used the 8 years to get the AAV down with the intention of paying him well beyond his playing career. The Red Wings did this with Zetterberg about 15 years ago.
Actually seems supremely respectful, Stamkos is 34 right? So, what are they realistically expecting him to play? 2 more quality seasons, then pay him 6 more seasons into the twilight at 3 mil per? Actually sounds kind of unique. And respectful. Just one guys take.
It is disrespectful. I, not a Tampa Bay fan but the offer was insulting. Don’t make an offer if you don’t want him. To answer your question the reason it was an 8 year offer was not to have him play 8 more years, it is so when they either waive him or he retires the remaining cap hit will not be that much.
You have to look at the big picture on these contracts, not just the years and total value.
Agreed it’s disrespectful. He already took a lesser deal last time & wanted an extension last yr. & Now they want him to spread out 24m over 8 yrs? For the team? Sorry, any of us would want the 24m over 3 as it’s worth more that way. He gone!
umm it’s 24 millions for a 34 year old. did you forget that? do you think 24 millions for 3 or MAYBE 4 years is insulting to a 34 year old? the whole 8 years bit is to spread out the cap hit – you know, helping the team which mr supposedly i love tampa and want to play for 1 team should be all about. but i guess you think Stammer is gonna be scoring 40 goals a year when he’s 42.
“disrespectful?” LMAO. oh yeah. stammer got 8.5 million a year for the last 8 years in a state with no income tax. SOOOOO underpaid! bahahahahah.
91 and 88 to NYR
#1 candidate for Most Overpaid this offseason? Guentzel. I don’t think he’s overrated, but someone will offer him north of 7×10.
Zadorov
Whether Steven Stamkos is done in TBL is still a question mark. Yes, he’s going to test FA & hear from other teams. However, BriseBois did mention that he & Stamkos’ agent Don Meehan will be in touch throughout the FA process. Sometimes you have to let something go to see if it will comeback. In this case, that’s what is being tested by TBL & Stamkos. Only time will tell what is going to happen on this situation.
I still feel both sides will reach an agreement on a new contract when it’s all set & done. But we’ll see how things play out.
Yzerman is def going to go after Stamkos because of the familiarity between himself and the head coach.
If anything, Jake is underrated. Now, he might get overpaid, but…he’s not overrated.
I watched almost every game of his career and still gave Sid too much credit for him. He proved in CAR that he’s a legit top line winger, one of the better ones in the NHL.
Not sure why TB would be at the top of his list unless he just wants the money and is OK with one ring.
50/50 Bolts/Wings for Stamkos.
Not sure why TBL would be at the top of his list?!?…LOL! Haters going to hate. TBL championship window isn’t closed by any means as one would have to be blatantly ignorant or just short-sighted to actually think so.
Let’s see, he could be on the first line with Point & Kucherov for staters as teaming with one of, if not, the most dominant duo in the entire league is definitely a major perk. Also, going to the state of Florida in itself has several benefits more so than other states.
Furthermore, it’s widely known throughout the league that TBL has one of the best cultures among teams & is simply put a winning organization. That’s just a few things on why & if you can’t see why Guentzel wouldn’t be interested, then maybe you’re just utterly foolish but that’s your problem.
Windows open and close. The roster is hollowed out. Key players older. Better teams in their division.
Could TB win another Cup? Sure, they have Vaz and he could go on a run.
Short of that…
And you listed reasons why he might sign in TB, which he very well may, not reasons why the window is still wide open, FTR.
one ring? name me 1 GM with the restraint to not overpay (other than hedman) & be the perfect GM for a league with a hard cap? name me any of those teams with a goalie like Vasi locked in on a contract. i’ll wait. actually i won’t. you wont find a better situation. we are going to be in it to win the cup for YEARS… thanks.
while all these teams have a 1 or 2 year window, our window will remain open. miami’s window might already be shut. if not it will be after next season. they’re paying sergei chokovskry 10 mil a year for several more! LMAO… DONE!
Name me your second, third and fourth lines after signing Jake…who will be the youngest top line forward, correct?
And the D chart after Hedman now that Sergachev is gone.
I wonder what Carolina’s plan is now. Necas?