Another NHL team may consider a making a play for Stamkos.

Insider speculates on possible move from another team.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 8 years ago
Another NHL team may consider a making a play for Stamkos.

Most NHL fans believe that Tampa Bay Lightning star forward Steven Stamkos will do one of two things, stay in Tampa Bay, or head home to Ontario and play for the Toronto Maple Leafs. However one insider has speculated that a third team could be a player if Stamkos becomes a free agent.

In a recent interview with TSN's 1260 Radio, insider Bob McKenzie revealed that he believes the Detroit Red Wings are one of the few teams capable of making a major play for soon to be free agent forward Steven Stamkos.

“I’ll be curious to see – I don’t know, and again, this is not me reporting anything, but I’ll be curious to see IF Steven Stamkos gets to unrestricted free agency this summer, would the Wings try to get involved in that and see if there’s a way that they could manipulate it," said McKenzie as per Nichols on Hockey.

“But I also do know that once upon a time July 1 used to be where the Detroit Red Wings – Mike Ilitch would get out and flex his financial muscle and the Wings would make a very attractive spot for any free agent because they’re such a good organization."

With that said, McKenzie also stated that if the asking price for Stamkos is simply too high, Ken Holland is the type of general manager who wouldn't hesitate to step away from such an offer.

“Obviously huge financial implications for a contract like Stamkos, and I don’t think Ken Holland – I mean, Steve Yzerman learned at the feet of Kenny Holland in the Detroit organization. I don’t know that Kenny Holland believes you can pay somebody $10 million-plus in a salary cap world and still do everything else you want to do around him, so maybe philosophically it doesn’t make sense."

Even if the Red Wings don't end up signing Stamkos, the idea of a potential battle between multiple franchises for a top tier free agent is an exciting one.

[pub]

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