A superstar in another market is in the exact same boat as Nylander and Matthews but nobody is talking about it
As TSN OverDrive host Bryan Hayes said yesterday on the show, "we've been remarkably calm" regarding the extensions for Auston Matthews and William Nylander. Since July 1st, we have not heard much from the Leafs, Nylander or Matthews about contract talks aside from what each player is looking for and what the Leafs are comfortable with. While there has been a ton of speculative reporting done on both extensions, Nylander and Matthews are not the only two prominent pending UFAs heading into the season without extensions.
On OverDrive yesterday, TSN's Mike Johnson talked about the possibility of Nylander and Matthews entering the season without extensions, but also mentioned a two-time Stanley Cup Champion is also entering the season without one.
"[Nylander] won't be the only one [entering the season without an extension]... Steven Stamkos is in the same situation. He's got one year left on his deal before he's a UFA. So they won't be alone as prominent pending UFAs," said Johnson.
Several years ago, the Leafs attempted to bring Stamkos to Toronto when the NHL allowed teams to meet with pending UFAs before July 1st. However, at the eleventh hour, Stamkos decided to stay in Tampa and signed an 8-year, $68M deal that expires at the end of the upcoming season. Granted he is 6-7 years older than Matthews and Nylander, but the 33-year-old is still one of the best goal-scorers in the league. Yet, even though his status as a pending UFA is well-known, we haven't heard a peep from the Lightning, Stamkos, or people close to the situation about an extension or how much Stamkos wants or what the Lightning are willing to give him. Even more surprising, the media has been dead quiet on this front.
The last we heard about a Stamkos extension was just after the draft when Elliotte Friedman mentioned that he saw Lightning GM Julien Brisebois and Stamkos' agent chatting at the draft. Other than that, everyone has gone about their business in Tampa without a word, which might be something we should try in Toronto sometime.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 9 | 161 ANSWERS A superstar in another market is in the exact same boat as Nylander and Matthews but nobody is talking about it Do you believe that Steven Stamkos will sign an extension in Tampa before training camp? | ||
| Yes | 95 | 59 % |
| No | 66 | 41 % |
| List of polls | ||
