Stamkos would benefit more in Buffalo
Steven Stamkos won't be traded in-season, Lightning GM Steve Yzerman announced Monday, but that hardly puts to rest the notion of him signing elsewhere come summer.
Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News takes a stab at the Sabres angle. Harrington argues that Buffalo could surround Stamkos with a better supporting cast than Toronto can if the player does want out of Tampa.
"They’re far closer to winning than the Leafs are and already have core pieces in place. How would Stamkos look alongside Jack Eichel or Sam Reinhart, for instance?" he wonders. "You want more money than the $10.5 million per year that Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are making? No problem. Terry Pegula can easily come through with $11-12 million a year, even with the need to pay Rasmus Ristolainen now and Eichel and Reinhart in a couple of years."
Stamkos would avoid a "media circus" by choosing Buffalo or Toronto, Harrington points out, but have you seen Stamkos in a scrum? Media attention doesn't phase the kid. And the sponsorship opportunities, historic significance, and pull of friends and family in Toronto outweigh whatever Buffalo can offer in a more enticing current roster.
