Steven Stamkos, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s star player, may have just played his farewell game. With contract talks between Stamkos and Lightning GM Julien BriseBois stalled, is Stammer’s time in Chicago behind him?
In September 2023, Steven Stamkos expressed his dissatisfaction with the absence of contract extension talks. “To be honest, I’m disappointed in the lack of talk in that regard,” he remarked. “It was something that I expressed at the end of last year that I wanted to get something done before training camp started.”
As the season progressed, the situation appeared to worsen as no agreement was negotiated and speculations of Stamkos’ trade at the deadline grew stronger.
BriseBois quickly put an end to the speculations, saying, “Steven Stamkos is not going to be traded, so we can put that one to bed. That will not alter between now and the deadline, under any circumstances.
With the regular season coming to a finish and Tampa Bay sealing a playoff position for the eighth year in a row, Stamkos and his Lightning focused on winning another Stanley Cup.
Unfortunately for Stamkos and Tampa Bay, they would only win one playoff game in 2024, as the Florida Panthers upset them in five games, raising questions about where Stamkos should sign.
So, how do the Chicago Blackhawks fit in here? With Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson publicly stating that he intends to compete for a playoff place, you can bet that he will begin to pursue aggressive moves and acquisitions this offseason.
There’s little doubt that Davidson has all he needs to get Stamkos to Chicago. Davidson can offer Stamkos $30 million in contract space, an 18-year-old talent in Connor Bedard, a guaranteed top-three choice in the 2024 draft, and the opportunity to play for one of the original six teams.
Steven Stamkos would be a very valuable addition to the Chicago Blackhawks. Stamkos brings leadership, playoff and Stanley Cup Final experience, and he is still one of the league’s elite players, having scored 40 goals for the eighth time in his career.
If Stamkos is not granted an extension and decides to test the free-agent market, he will most likely seek a multi-year contract for $6-8 million each season.
Free agency begins on Monday, July 1st, and all eyes will be on Steven Stamkos, who becomes a UFA for the second time in his NHL career.
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