With each game, the Tampa Bay Lightning's reign at the top of the NHL seems closer to an end. They are currently sitting at 10-10-5, on the bubble of even being a playoff team this season. If this continues, it would appear that their years of dominance may just be over.
On the other side of the coin, their captain Steven Stamkos remains unsigned and will become a UFA next year. While he wanted a deal to be completed before training camp this year, this never materialized. Now, Elliotte Friedman has revealed that if the Lightning don't look like a potential contender, trade offers will come in for Stamkos.
It would be wild to see Steven Stamkos play for another team other than Tampa Bay, as he has spent his entire career in Tampa, bringing them home two Stanley Cups. But, as wild as it sounds, if Tampa thinks a rebuild is in their future, now might be the time to do something.
Stamkos hasn't missed a step as he has gotten older, with his production keeping pace from his top years. He already has 24 points this season in 23 games and recorded 84 points last year. Now could be the time for Tampa to cash in on their star before he loses his speed.
Time will tell whether Tampa actually goes through with such a wild idea.
POLL | ||
DÉCEMBRE 4 | 260 ANSWERS MAJOR: Steven Stamkos Trade More Likely Than Ever Do you think the Lightning will trade Stamkos? | ||
Yes | 144 | 55.4 % |
No | 116 | 44.6 % |
LIST OF POLLS |
G | A | PTS | ||
Brandon Hagel | - | 5 | 5 | |
Sebastian Aho | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
Nico Hischier | 3 | - | 3 | |
Macklin Celebrini | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
Jakob Chychrun | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
Seth Jarvis | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
Nikita Kucherov | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
Zachary Bolduc | 2 | - | 2 | |
Will Cuylle | 2 | - | 2 | |
Lars Eller | 2 | - | 2 | |
Jake Guentzel | 2 | - | 2 | |
Alex Iafallo | 2 | - | 2 | |
Ivan Ivan | 2 | - | 2 | |
Ivan Barbashev | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Drake Batherson | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Simon Edvinsson | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Jack Eichel | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Morgan Frost | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Shayne Gostisbehere | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Miro Heiskanen | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Complete stats |
STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 21 | 17 | 4 | - | 34 | |
Wild | 20 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 30 | |
Devils | 23 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 30 | |
Hurricanes | 20 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 29 | |
Golden Knights | 21 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 28 | |
Maple Leafs | 21 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 28 | |
Capitals | 20 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 27 | |
Flames | 21 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 27 | |
Stars | 19 | 13 | 6 | - | 26 | |
Rangers | 19 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 25 | |
Conference | Cumulative |