The most common assumption is that Steven Stamkos will either re-up with the Tampa Bay Lightning or sign with his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs once NHL free agency opens Friday.
A former Lightning executive, however, believes Stamkos also might be considering a third team: the Boston Bruins.
Brian Lawton, a former Lightning general manager who now works as an analyst for NHL Network, said Monday on Toronto’s TSN 1050 that the Bruins are third on the list of favorites to sign the star center.
Bruins GM Don Sweeney said over the weekend that he will inquire about Stamkos, who’s set to hit unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career. Sweeney certainly will not be alone in that regard, as no fewer than a half-dozen teams are rumored to have interest in this summer’s biggest free-agent fish.
Though the chances of him landing in Boston likely are slim, Stamkos would be an obvious and significant improvement to a Bruins lineup that already features one of NHL’s best one-two center duos in Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.
Signing the 26-year-old would have its drawbacks, however, as his sizable salary cap hit would make it more difficult for the B’s to improve their struggling defensive corps and re-sign winger Brad Marchand, who has one year remaining on his contract and likely is in line for a raise.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
