Best Steven Stamkos destinations if he leaves Lightning in free agency

The Tampa Bay Lightning’s season has come to an end, marking a second consecutive early exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Last year, they suffered defeat in Round 1, becoming the first team since the 2004 Ottawa Senators to fall to the Toronto Maple Leafs. This year, their postseason journey was halted by their in-state rival, the Florida Panthers, who clinched the series in five games.

What exactly does the future hold for captain Steven Stamkos, whom the Lightning made their 1st overall selection in the 2008 NHL Draft and has been the face of the franchise ever since? He didn’t shy away from voicing his disappointment in the lack of progress in contract negotiations in September, via David Morassutti of Sportsnet.

“To be honest, I’m disappointed in the lack of talk in that regard,” Stamkos lamented. “It was something that I expressed at the end of last year that I wanted to get something done before training camp started.”

There’s a very real possibility that he elects to sign elsewhere, which would signify the end of an era. And he’ll have no shortage of options and suitors to choose from – let’s take a look at the three best situations that he could find himself in should a deal with the Lightning ultimately fail to materialize.

Best Steven Stamkos Destination No. 1: Detroit Red Wings

Stamkos might first consider the Detroit Red Wings, a divisional rival boasting a notable connection. Steve Yzerman, a legendary figure and the architect behind Stamkos’ current contract set to expire on July 1, now leads the Red Wings as their general manager.

Furthermore, the Red Wings’ head coach, Derek Lalonde, previously served as an assistant during Tampa Bay’s victorious Stanley Cup campaigns in 2020 and 2021. This shared history creates a sense of familiarity. Despite narrowly missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, the Red Wings are widely perceived as a team on the ascent, potentially offering Stamkos an intriguing opportunity.

The Red Wings are anticipated to have approximately $30 million in cap space come summer, a portion of which will be allocated to re-signing promising young talents like Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond. Despite these commitments, ample room remains for a potential Stamkos acquisition. This is particularly feasible if Detroit optimizes its salary flexibility by parting ways with contracts such as those belonging to Justin Holl, Andrew Copp, and Ville Husso.

Signing in Detroit would give the Red Wings a solid 1-2 punch in the goal-scoring department and take some of the pressure off Alex DeBrincat, who began his first season in the Winged Wheel scorching hot but slowed down considerably as the season went on.

Best Steven Stamkos Destination No. 2: Nashville Predators