Around the League - 2023 Offseason Edition

[Bill Peckerskull]

For context...

 

[henchman21]

IMO Tampa would be smart to let Stammer walk, but a franchise icon is hard to walk away from. That's a rock and a hard place situation. One we will face with MacK down the line.

 

[The Merchant]

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[Ararana]

IMO Tampa would be smart to let Stammer walk, but a franchise icon is hard to walk away from. That's a rock and a hard place situation. One we will face with MacK down the line.

But he's only 33!

 

[JLo217]

Apperently ovie is saw Babcock being the biggest story in the NHL and said hold my beer View attachment 744255

Go home Vatnik

 

[The Merchant]

 

[henchman21]

This is worded oddly… makes it seem non-hockey related as those details are usually discussed. Hope he’s okay.

 

[UncleRisto]

I hear they're operating at the Robidas Island Medical Center.

E: Sorrey. Medical Centre.

 

[henchman21]

I hear they're operating at the Robidas Island Medical Center.

E: Sorrey. Medical Centre.

@S E P H approves.

 

[Ceremony]

Stamkos leaving Tampa would be an absolute nonsense.

 

[henchman21]

Stamkos leaving Tampa would be an absolute nonsense.

To me it depends on the goal. Do you willingly sign a bad 5-6 year deal to keep an icon around knowing the value will be terrible? Do you try to re-tool with the younger guys you have and use that space more efficiently? If the goal is Cup contention, I think you have to let Stammer go unless he signs cheaply. If the goal is staying good, but not elite and keeping icons around so fans are happy (knowing Cup contention isn't realistic)... then re-signing him makes a ton of sense.

I personally don't think Tampa has the horses at the right age to re-tool, but Stammer at anything above 6-7 is bound to be a bad contract in 2-3 years. It is a weird spot that aging teams get into.

 

[ABasin]

IMO Tampa would be smart to let Stammer walk, but a franchise icon is hard to walk away from. That's a rock and a hard place situation. One we will face with MacK down the line.

That would be like someone suggesting the Avs should have traded Sakic towards the end of his career.

Oh, wait......

 

[henchman21]

That would be like someone suggesting the Avs should have traded Sakic towards the end of his career.

Oh, wait......

Fan service/respecting the player vs the desire to contend. I personally don't begrudge either action, but the realistic choice is if you re-sign him for anything more than a massive discout, you aren't contending.

Now if Stammer would re-sign for 5.5 x 4... you have a guy that'll pop in 15-20 power play goals a season and probably another 10 at EV. That's solid value for a top 6/middle 6 wing even as he ages since PPG tend to be sticky. That number would be pretty insulting for what he has done though.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

I love that Stamkos is publicly signaling to CMac at the start of training camp that he does not have a contract for next season. He wants to make sure we know he's available as a rental and then we can go from there.

 

[henchman21]

We might get to see how ruthless JBB really is.

Edit: Full statement

 

[Ceremony]

To me it depends on the goal. Do you willingly sign a bad 5-6 year deal to keep an icon around knowing the value will be terrible? Do you try to re-tool with the younger guys you have and use that space more efficiently? If the goal is Cup contention, I think you have to let Stammer go unless he signs cheaply. If the goal is staying good, but not elite and keeping icons around so fans are happy (knowing Cup contention isn't realistic)... then re-signing him makes a ton of sense.

I personally don't think Tampa has the horses at the right age to re-tool, but Stammer at anything above 6-7 is bound to be a bad contract in 2-3 years. It is a weird spot that aging teams get into.

It doesn't seem to me like he'd be that expensive and there's a lot of value in keeping team legends like that around.

 

[Avs_19]

They have to pay Jeannot (again) in two years so I understand the hesitancy to commit to an older Stamkos.

 

[henchman21]

It doesn't seem to me like he'd be that expensive and there's a lot of value in keeping team legends like that around.

Market is somewhere between 7-9 for 4-5 years. Paying a 37 year old Stamkos 9m seems like a bad idea if you want to contend. It might be fine, but I'd say the risk is very high.

The value is fan service and respecting the player... at the cost of contending. Which is a perfectly fine decision... just a decision that should be made consciously.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

We might get to see how ruthless JBB really is.

How long is/was Stamkos current contract? This one that is expiring was his first UFA one, right?

 

[henchman21]

They have to pay Jeannot (again) in two years so I understand the hesitancy to commit to an older Stamkos.

I know jokes here... but the big one is Hedman. They have Stammer this year and Hedman the following for two players that are clearly declining and have had injury issues. Yet, they are arguably the two best players in franchise history.

How long is/was Stamkos current contract? This one that is expiring was his first UFA one, right?

This is off his 8 year deal where he flirted with UFA.

 

[Avs_19]

I know jokes here... but the big one is Hedman. They have Stammer this year and Hedman the following for two players that are clearly declining and have had injury issues. Yet, they are arguably the two best players in franchise history.


This is off his 8 year deal where he flirted with UFA.

Easier said from the outside than actually done but I’d be very hesitant for both. Hedman will be entering his age 35 season for his new deal. Even a three year deal is very risky.

 

[henchman21]

Easier said from the outside than actually done but I’d be very hesitant for both. Hedman will be entering his age 35 season for his new deal. Even a three year deal is very risky.

Yup... eventually all teams with franchise talents get to this spot. I get the hesitation on re-signing them... I also get the idea that losing their Sakic is hard for a fanbase to take.

 

[dahrougem2]

Tampa walked away from both Lecavalier and St. Louis before, no? Though St. Louis seemed to be due to Yzerman pissing him off.

I feel like ownership in Tampa isn't as attached to long-time players as other orgs might be.

What would probably be insane but fun to see play out is Tampa trading Stamkos and Hedman for the biggest hauls possible.

That's great, but you'd also be the guys Babcock sends down to the minors or keeps in the press box no matter how well you play.

Yeah, no, that's not entirely true.

If Mike Babcock starts healthy scratching or playing Mitch Marner on the 4th line, for example, well he'd better have a good god damn reason to explain to the GM who picked him so high. And if his answer is "he told me to f*** off" I assume the GM would want to pry more into WHY that player told the coach that.

It isn't as black and white as "rookie scared, listen to coach." A lot of young players will fall in line, but there are some who won't. Like I said, I would hope some Jackets player told him to f*** off.