Steven Stamkos does not have a contract for next season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Could another team swoop in and try to poach the restricted free agent away from Steve Yzerman’s club?
Steven Stamkos, Dale Tallon And How The Florida Panthers Could Crush Their Biggest Rival
Getty ImagesThat’s the cruelty, or benefit, of the NHL’s salary structure. With a continually rising salary cap (thanks, NBC) and a fixed salary floor hanging $16 million below that cap no matter how high that cap goes, we have a system that’s seen player salaries rise exponentially since the 2004 season, to the point where they’re almost on par with what we saw in 2003-04, the year before we lost an entire season of hockey.
That year, teams could pay at maximum $39 million on their rosters for the 04-05 season. Today, just six years later, teams have to pay $48 million or face harsh penalties, such as a the garnishment of draft picks for circumventing the salary system.
Read Article >Steven Stamkos Could Be Given Offer Sheet From Philadelphia Flyers
Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News has led the crusade on the story, stating repeatedly that the Flyers have a ton of interest. Both he and Anthony SanFilippo of the Delaware County Times have reported that if the Flyers do send Stamkos an offer sheet, which the Lightning would have the right to match, it would be for 12 years and $115 million.
That’s a $9.58 million cap hit, and there are serious questions on whether or not the Lightning can afford to match such a hefty offer. Of course, the question is whether or not the Bolts would be able to do that, although Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune had reported that they will match any offer sheet.
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