How are you all going to feel when we sign Jake Guentzel for more than Stamkos signs for?
You mean when we sign the 4 and a half years younger, known playoff performer, 5v5 awesome player Guetzel? I'll be ecstatic. Obviously he'll come in at a far higher price than Stammer.
It's sad if we can't sign Stammer, but his 40 G this season don't mask his obvious regression in his even strenght game, as well as his positive impact outside of the powerplay.
JBB is putting aside emotionally re-signing a franchise player in order to find a way to ice the best team he can in October. I can respect that. Too many GMs fall in the trap of gifting out one last contract to way too higher numbers, which impacts negatively (one way or another)on the future of their team.
Obviously, that comes with a risk: will we find a decent replacement for Stammer? What if Guentzel signs elsewhere? Who do you bring in with 16.5M cap space that puts you in a better spot than having 12.5M cap space to spend + Stammer? Difficult to say, but with today's trades JBB proved to me he's on the right track to do the retool I wanted to see him do.
Let him cook.