Leafs? Panthers? Four NHL Teams That Should Bid for Steven Stamkos in Free Agency

Steven Stamkos and John Tavares Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Lightning raised eyebrows by re-acquiring veteran defenseman Ryan McDonagh from the Nashville Predators while captain Steven Stamkos remains unsigned.

While the Lightning’s defense will be improved with McDonagh's return, his $6.75-million salary cap hit makes it all the more difficult for them to bring back Stamkos, a looming UFA.

Tampa Bay currently has about $5 million in cap space, and it still has five roster spots to fill with that amount of money. You can see why many are wondering how they’ll retain Stamkos’ services.

Lightning GM Julien BriseBois said they can still bring back Stamkos, but that would almost certainly mean dealing a forward such as center Anthony Cirelli.

If Stamkos can’t agree to return to the Bolts, where might he wind up? Could joining an Atlantic Division rival to the Lightning be in store?

Here are four teams that could be in on the bidding for Stamkos this summer, listed in no particular order.

NHL Utah

The former Arizona Coyotes group is looking to make a big splash in its first year in Utah. It wouldn’t get much bigger than landing Stamkos to take them to the next competitive level.

Stamkos wouldn’t have to do all the heavy lifting for Utah, but he’d get to be a key part of the excitement over the relocated squad. His presence might be just enough to catapult the team back into a playoff position.

Stamkos easily could command a payday in the area of his 2023-24 cap hit of $8.5 million after recording 81 points in 79 games this season. The heretofore frugal Coyotes have more than enough cap space to get a deal done without sacrificing any other part of their roster.

Utah owner Ryan Smith will be aggressive in his pursuit of experienced help for his new team, and signing Stamkos would send a shot across the bow of the rest of the league – with the message being Utah means business.

Chicago Blackhawks

Great players like Stamkos value playing with other great players. While the Blackhawks don’t have anything close to a Stanley Cup contender at present, would the chance to play on the same line as phenom Connor Bedard be too tempting for Stamkos to resist if he gets paid well? Stamkos is a generational talent who could serve as a mentor to Bedard.

Chicago has more than $33.7 million in cap space, so they can afford to spend big on him. Depending on the length of the 34-year-old's next contract, it might be his final one. Spending his remaining NHL days on an Original Six team that’s on the rise might be quite appealing for Stamkos.

Florida Panthers

Here’s an intriguing thought: let’s say the Panthers cannot keep star forward Sam Reinhart when he becomes a UFA this summer. Would it be so crazy for them to take the cap space they do have – about $19.7 million – and steal Stamkos from their intra-state arch-rivals? We don’t think so.

It wouldn’t be the first time a star player has left his longtime home for a nearby locale, and Stamkos could remain in Florida while having a better chance at another Cup victory than he’d have by returning to the Lightning.

Bolts fans would be super sour over such a move, but it would be hard to fault Stamkos for indulging his competitive side and making a strategic jump to the Panthers. And the Lightning and Panthers rivalry would rise to new heights.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The last time Stamkos was at a contractual crossroads, he seriously considered joining his hometown Maple Leafs before ultimately choosing to remain in Tampa.

Now that he’s closer to the end of his potential Hockey Hall of Fame career, would Stamkos do what many longtime Toronto-area stars do and eventually join the Maple Leafs?

He’d have to take significantly less money to do so, but Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving happily would take the $5.5 million in cap space opened up by the looming UFA departure of winger Tyler Bertuzzi and give that and maybe another $500,000 or so to Stamkos. He would provide the Maple Leafs with the playoff pedigree they so desperately are looking for.

The chance to play at least one season alongside longtime friend John Tavares would also be a key selling point for Stamkos to join Toronto, and of course, winning a Cup in his hometown would be the ideal ending to his NHL playing days.

There would be lots of pressure on him right away, but we get the sense Stamkos could handle it and thrive wearing a different brand of Blue and White than the one he’s been accustomed to throughout his career.

Toronto’s “Core Four” would become a “High Five” with Stamkos on board, presuming Leafs winger Mitch Marner isn’t traded, and Stamkos would have a terrific challenge in front of him. That might just be enough to get him to bite on a contract with the Maple Leafs.

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