Rumored Detroit free agency target Steven Stamkos is off the board, reportedly signing a four-year deal in Nashville
According to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, one of the day's marquee free agents is off the board before the unrestricted free agency officially even begins at noon. Long-time Tampa Bay Lighting forward–and rumored Red Wing target—Steven Stamkos, per LeBrun, has agreed to a new contract that "should end up around four years and $8 million AAV per year" with the Nashville Predators.
Stamkos won two Stanley Cup in Tampa, where he was named captain over a decade ago, all the way back in March of 2014. He has 555 goals and 582 assists in 1082 career games with the Bolts.
But of course, Nashville isn't signing Stamkos' legacy; the Predators are signing a 34-year-old forward, who has moved from center to the wing as his career progressed. Without a doubt, Stamkos remains a high-end goalscorer and lethal power play weapon, but it's fair to wonder just how much offense he drives himself at this stage of his career, particularly absent long-time running mate and God-tier creator Nikita Kucherov.
From a Detroit perspective, assuming the deal does come in around LeBrun's estimate, it's a contract the Red Wings were not realistically able to match. From a term perspective, what made last night's Patrick Kane extension so palatable was the limited term: just a one-year pact with, by extension, minimal downside. Four years does not offer that same benefit, and the Red Wings were probably not well equipped to take on an $8 million-ish dollar salary, particularly with Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider's deals as of yet uncertain.
So, a player who might have helped Detroit is off the board, but it came at a price that wouldn't have made sense for the Red Wings, so there's little need to shed a tear over the missed connection.
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