Steven Stamkos landing spots: Top 3 teams Stanley Cup champion may join in free agency (Image via IMAGN)
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos is set to hit the market when free agency opens on Monday. The announcement from Lightning GM Julien BriseBois made it clear both sides could not reach an agreement, though the door was still open for a possible new deal.
Steven Stamkos should generate quite a bit of attention on the open market. Several teams are reportedly interested in adding the 34-year-old Stanley Cup champ. With that in mind, here is a look at three potential landing spots for Steven Stamkos, barring a return to the Lightning.
Top 3 teams Steven Stamkos may join in free agency
#3: Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators have a reported $26.3 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia. A chunk of that cap space will go toward Juuse Saros’ new eight-year contract extension. But that still leaves plenty of room for the Preds to make a splash
Nashville GM Barry Trotz will be looking to complement forward Ryan O’Reilly and Filip Forsberg with a proven goal scorer. So, why not bring Steven Stamkos into the fold? Stamkos could easily fit into the Predators’ top line, giving the club the flexibility it needs up and down the lineup.
Look for a three to four-year deal somewhere around $7 to $8 million per season. Nevertheless, the Predators could offer more years in exchange for a lower cap hit.
#2: Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres recently bought out Jee Skinner’s massive contract. That will save them approximately $7.5 million next season and $4.5 million in 2025-2026, Sportsnet reported. That flexibility opens up enough space for the Sabres to make a run at Steven Stamkos.
As for Stamkos, he would join a young team looking to contend. The return of Lindy Ruff behind the bench gives the Sabres a familiar face that could provide the structure needed to succeed. Stamkos almost automatically fits into the Sabres’ top line, adding a potent scoring threat to complement star Tage Thompson.
#1: Florida Panthers
The Panthers are fresh off their first Stanley Cup title. However, the club must now get back to the business side of the game. That business side means figuring out what to do about free agent Sam Reinhart. Reinhart will be looking for a big payday, meaning the Cats may not be able to sign him.
So, if Florida cannot keep Reinhart, why not sign Stamkos instead? A piece in The Hockey News suggested this possibility, especially if the Panthers cannot re-sign Reinhart. The Cats have almost $19 million in cap space, per PuckPedia.
As a result, the Panthers could be an interesting choice for Stamkos as he could become a wonderful complement to team captain Sasha Barkov. Meanwhile, Stamkos could be a key piece in giving the Panthers a chance to win back-to-back Cups.
