Well, then. Discussion over.
The Tampa Bay Lightning currently cling to the last Wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference and are tied for the most games played in the league so far this season at 44. A 2023-24 postseason berth is far from guaranteed. Their captain, Steven Stamkos, is a pending unrestricted free agent and expressed his dismay before the season at the lack of any contract talks.
But that doesn’t mean Stamkos will end up on the trade block no matter what happens to Tampa in the weeks leading up to the March 8 trade deadline. Bolts GM Julien BriseBois clarified that on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters as part of a mid-season media availability, he addressed Stamkos’ immediate future:
“Steven Stamkos is not getting traded, so we can put that one to bed,” BriseBois said. “That is not going to change between now and the deadline under any circumstances.”
Stamkos, 33, is enjoying another productive season in his future Hall of Fame career, with 18 goals and 41 points in 41 games. He’s in the final season of an eight-year contract carrying an $8.5 million cap hit. In September, he expressed his disappointment that there “hadn’t been any” contract talks between him and the team.
BriseBois had addressed the situation earlier this season, too, explaining that he had to map out the team’s cap situation before deciding how to handle Stamkos’ contract.
“I need to see how the pieces of the puzzle fit this year,” BriseBois said at the time. “After the season, once I’ve gathered that information, I can work with Steven and his agent on a contract structure that would be in the best interest of both sides.”
The salary cap projects to jump $4.2 million next season, but even with a projected $87.7 million cap, the Lightning do have more than $76 million in spending committed already. Most notably, left winger Brandon Hagel’s extension kicks in, spiking his AAV from $1.5 million to $6.5 million.
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