When it comes to re-signing their own players, the Tampa Bay Lightning are known for their swift action. They’ve made a habit of securing their core players well in advance of their unrestricted free agency (UFA) eligibility. Stars like Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel, Nikita Kucherov, Erik Cernak, Brayden Point, Victor Hedman, Mikhail Sergachev, and Andrei Vasilevskiy all inked extensions a year before they could test the open market, leaving no room for doubt about their loyalty to the team.
However, there’s one notable exception to this trend: Steven Stamkos. As his UFA status looms at the end of the current season, Stamkos expressed his disappointment at the lack of contract discussions as the team began training camp. He had hoped to have a deal in place before camp kicked off.
Stamkos has been in a similar situation before, back in 2016 when he was just days away from becoming a free agent before agreeing to an eight-year extension with the Lightning. This time around, several factors come into play. Stamkos will turn 34 this season, and the team will consider his age when negotiating terms. With the salary cap set to rise, determining his value becomes even more intriguing, especially considering his impressive performance last season with 34 goals and 84 points.
Elliotte Friedman, speaking on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, revealed that there’s a belief among some players close to Stamkos that the Lightning might not be devastated if he were to leave.
As the season begins, Tampa Bay finds itself once again tightly against the salary cap, and Stamkos stands out as their best player on an expiring contract. However, the Lightning must also keep an eye on upcoming deals, including one for Victor Hedman by 2025.
Friedman suggests that Stamkos’s goal is to play 20 NHL seasons, which means five more seasons, including 2023-24. The question remains whether all of these seasons will be spent in Tampa. The Lightning may tell Stamkos that he’ll forever be a part of their franchise, with his number retired and honors bestowed, but they won’t agree to a contract they consider unreasonable.
Meanwhile, in Ottawa, the Senators are dealing with their own contract situation, particularly with restricted free agent (RFA) Shane Pinto. Pinto, a third-line center with 20-goal potential, remains unsigned as training camp begins.
Adding complexity to the issue is Ottawa’s tight cap situation. Pinto’s previous contract had an average annual value (AAV) of $1.325 million, and his next deal is expected to be higher, especially since he won’t accept his qualifying offer.
According to Friedman, despite reports of Pinto being close to a deal, the Senators currently have just one million in cap space, which makes it impossible for Pinto to accept a million-dollar contract. Ottawa will need to make some cap-related moves before they can sign Pinto, but they are determined to keep him.
Pinto’s presence, along with Tim Stutzle and Josh Norris, forms a formidable trio of centers for Ottawa. With Norris recovering from an injury and starting camp in a non-contact jersey, Pinto may need to step up to the second line, showcasing his versatility.
The Senators have made it clear that they are not eager to trade Pinto unless forced to do so by exceptional circumstances. To alleviate their cap constraints, the name of Mathieu Joseph, who has a $2.95 million contract for three more seasons, keeps coming up as a potential trade candidate. Any deal involving Joseph might require Ottawa to sweeten the pot with additional assets, and it appears the Philadelphia Flyers have shown interest in this situation.
The above is about The《Tampa Bay Lightning’s Contract Standoff with Steven Stamkos and Ottawa Senators’ Cap Conundrum with RFA Shane Pinto》, and finally, I would like to recommend you a pair of shoes nike air jordan 1 dia de los muertos.