$68 million contract for Steven Stamkos: The Canadiens met with the forward

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David St-Jean
June 7, 2024 (11:53)

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Unless the Lightning can reach an agreement with him, Steven Stamkos will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and he has been linked to the Canadiens.

It's quite easy to make the connection with Martin St-Louis and Vincent Lecavalier, but also because he has previously met with the Canadiens to discuss a contract.

Indeed, just before signing his 8-year, $68 million contract, Marc Bergevin, Geoff Molson, and Michel Therrien flew out solely to meet him and sell him on Montreal.

"The Canadiens tried to attract Steven Stamkos to Montreal in 2016, just days before the free agency market opened."

"We flew out, Marc Bergevin, Geoff Molson, and myself," said Therrien.

"There were many teams that wanted to meet him. Marc talked to him about the team's structure. We had a good team and were making the playoffs. We weren't missing much.

Geoff talked to him about the promotional advantages he could have had by playing in Montreal. From my side, I told him how I wanted to use him."

- Michel Therrien

Stamkos ultimately accepted less money to stay in Tampa Bay, and we can see today that he made the right choice.

However, we must wonder if the Canadiens would have been superior to those same Bolts during the 2021 final. If Stamkos had signed in Montreal, the story might have been written differently.

Source TVA Sports -
Le CH avait rencontré Stamkos chez lui en 2016