The Toronto Maple Leafs made a huge splash in the 2018 offseason, luring John Tavares away from the New York Islanders. But before Tavares, the Leafs were in hot pursuit of another huge free-agent fish: Steven Stamkos.
During the 2016 offseason, the former Tampa Bay Lightning captain was set to hit the free-agent market. And the Toronto Maple Leafs seemed like a “homecoming” for the Markham, Ontario native.
The Maple Leafs were looking to bring in Stamkos after a solid 36-goal season. However, the Lightning weren’t having any of it. They signed Stamkos to an eight-year, $68 million contract. And that was that. Stamkos eventually led the Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cups a few seasons later.
Once Stamkos’ deal in Tampa was done, the Lightning were content with letting their captain walk. Stamkos then signed with the Nashville Predators two offseasons ago. However, the deal hasn’t aged well at all.
Now, Stamkos is on Chris Johnston’s trade board this season. While the Predators aren’t openly shopping the 35-year-old, the chatter is that the Preds would be willing to move him for the right offer.
So, the situation could mean that the Maple Leafs might circle back to their once-prime free-agent target. Although this time Stamkos wouldn’t come to Toronto on a free-agent contract. It would have to be via a trade.
But then again, wouldn’t the Maple Leafs and Predators seem like potentially good trade partners? The Preds figure to be on the downside, while the Leafs are looking to desperately cling to their playoff hopes. The circumstances could line up for a major trade.
Plenty of Roadblocks on Stamkos’ Road to Maple Leafs
The road that would lead Steven Stamkos to the Toronto Maple Leafs is wrought with obstacles. The biggest one is his no-movement clause. That situation means the Predators cannot do anything without the star’s consent.
As such, the question begs: Would Stamkos waive his no-trade clause to join the Maple Leafs?
It’s an intriguing question, one that may not have a clear answer. The Leafs are not a clear-cut playoff team at this point. That’s why Stamkos may balk at the idea of joining one potential rebuild for another.
Then, there’s Stamkos’ cap hit. The Preds signed him to an $8 million AAV. That’s something very few teams could take on. So, the two sides would have to work out a deal with salary retention involved to grease the wheels.
Stamkos Could Be a Decent Fit in Toronto
It’s interesting to ponder where Stamkos could fit into the Maple Leafs’ lineup at this point. Stamkos is a winger now and needs to play with a solid, playmaking center. That situation could mean pairing Stamkos with Tavares. The two vets could be a highly productive duo.
Another possibility could be giving Stamkos a shot with Auston Matthews. While the veteran forward may need to keep up, Matthews and Stamkos could be a solid fit. Most importantly, Matthews would have someone reliable to play with.
Ultimately, bringing in Steven Stamkos may not be an easy deal for the Maple Leafs. The club should, nonetheless, do its due diligence. There’s no telling what could happen this season.
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