With the Lightning pressed against the salary cap, it seems that General Manager Julien Brisebois has made a decision to bolster their defense at the expense of their offense.
While Brisebois has expressed that re-signing Stamkos was a priority, the acquisition of McDonagh, who carries a $6.75 million cap hit per year, has fueled speculation about Stamkos's departure.
The Canadiens and GM Kent Hughes could potentially take advantage of this situation by making an offer to the current Lightning captain on July 1st.
AFPAnalytics, a firm known for accurately predicting player contracts over the past two years, has provided some insight into what Stamkos's next contract might look like.
According to AFPAnalytics, Stamkos could be signed for $19 million over three years. At 36 years old, this would be a very advantageous deal.
Would the Canadiens be able to sign him? Would Stamkos be interested in finishing his career with Martin St-Louis and Vincent Lecavalier?
Given his performance over the past three seasons, with point totals of 106, 84, and 81, it's clear that signing Stamkos would not be a significant risk despite his age.
POLL | ||
Would you like Steven Stamkos to sign with the Canadiens for 3 years and $19 million? | ||
Yes | 259 | 45.6 % |
No | 309 | 54.4 % |
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