NHL Weekly Roundup: Pre-Draft Rumours, Cup Finals & More
By Aly Dhanani
Stamkos Rumours Heating Up Once Again…
After the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, rumours once again started to swirl about the fate of star forward Steven Stamkos.
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Logically, signing Stamkos would not be the best option. The Bolts performed just as good (or even better?) when Stamkos was out with a blood clot.
His absence gives forwards Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov, Ondrej Palat, Jonathan Drouin and other prospects (i.e. Brayden Point, Dennis Yan, Adam Erne) more ice time and a chance to expand into bigger roles that they proved this summer they are capable of.
However, Stamkos himself does want to return to the Lightning, as he clearly expressed to reporters on Friday.
"“I certainly hope to be back. We obviously have unfinished business here,” Stamkos said. “This group has been unbelievable, the city has been unbelievable for me,” he added. “I can’t believe it’s been eight years already. Time flies.” GM Steve Yzerman said re-signing Stamkos is one of “many priorities” for a teamat the year end press conference."
Are they telling the truth? Keep in mind both Ben Bishop and Victor Hedman are pending UFA’s in the summer of 2017. If Yzerman truly is big on signing Stammer, he’ll have a lot on his hands this coming year.
Is the solution to trade Bishop now and re-sign Stamkos?
Related Story: Top 100 Forwards Under 25 Years Old
What about Jonathan Drouin? The 20-year-old has had one heck of year, requesting a trade in November, holding out in March, rejoining the AHL in April, and getting called up to the Lightning for the playoffs.
Funny how feelings between the player and GM can melt so quickly. But have they? Drouin, the 3rd overall pick in 2013, impressed with his play this postseason, but no one was really sure if he’d want to return for 2016-17. However, both Drouin and GM Yzerman both made it clear there is no longer a rift between the two:
"“I still have a lot of stuff to prove, a lot that I still need to do,’’ Drouin said. “But hopefully I can work my way up the ladder with my play. I mean, I want to be a part of those last-minute plays and that stuff and Coop gave me a chance with that (in Game 7) and that was nice. “And you know, everybody here has been great. When all that stuff happened, the guys never stopped reaching out to me so it feels like I never left a little bit, but I’m definitely happy to be back and feeling that love stuff that we had at the beginning of the year. “So yeah, I definitely want to be here. I love the way this ended. It was a weird and kind of different year for sure, but this finish was good and this is definitely where I want to play. I mean, it’s definitely not the way you want to do it, but the results were good.’’ “I just go back to that Islander game where he got hit (with his head down while coming across the ice by Thomas Hickey), and he got up, got to the bench and then went to the locker room,’’ Yzerman said. “But then he came back (a period later) and played again and finished the game, and you know there are not a lot of guys that would do that. I just think that showed me more than anything what he’s about. “The skill and all that, he makes us a better team. It’s as simple as that. He makes us a better team. He can do some things. He’s a talented young player that’s only going to get better.’’"
Next: Stanley Cup Finals