Trade Imminent: Bruins set to Sign Stamkos to Make a Big Impact.
The Boston Bruins might go big-fish hunting in free agency and make a contract offer to Steven Stamkos if they want to create havoc this offseason and address a critical need for the organization. Even while it seems improbable that Stamkos would leave the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he has played since 2008 and served as team captain since 2014, the fact remains that he will become an unrestricted free agent when his contract expires in a little over a week. The veteran forward would instantly provide an upgrade to the team’s top-six center group, thus the Bruins would be wise to make an offer to him if this were to occur.
Many were taken aback by the Bruins’ play in the previous season, particularly following a turbulent offseason that saw several major departures and a haphazard addition of players to fill in gaps for minimal contracts. Many of these signings turned out to be far more valuable than expected, which is credit to general manager Don Sweeney. But the Bruins might try to make a bigger impact this offseason, and that’s where Stamkos comes into play.
The Bruins Have a Short-Term No. 1 Center Option with Stamkos
The fact that Stamkos is 34 years old and isn’t a long-term solution for the team’s center position is the clear elephant in the room. Long-term solutions down the middle are obviously needed by the Bruins, but those players don’t come along every day. What’s worse is that the Bruins won’t have the draft capital in the early rounds of the upcoming Entry Drafts to select a top talent down the middle.
In order to fill this premium position of need, the team will therefore need to be resourceful and, at the at least, a little fortunate. One way they may buy some more time is to sign Stamkos to a contract that pushes the can farther down the road.
In 79 games during the previous season, the right-shot centerman scored 40 goals and 81 points. He still looks like he hasn’t aged a stride, and at 34, he is younger than Brad Marchand, the 36-year-old captain of the Boston Bruins. It’s risky to rely on two players who are nearing the end of their careers to spearhead the offense, but trying to make the most of Marchand’s remaining years while simultaneously clearing the cap to allow younger, more long-term options down the middle to emerge for the team may not be the worst course of action.
Matt Poitras is one player who might already be on the team; he would pick up a lot of knowledge from Stamkos and could develop into a reliable top-six option for the Bruins in the middle of the ice. Stamkos would also provide this Bruins squad leadership and a championship pedigree.
Even though Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha did a great job in their positions this season, the Bruins still need better choices in their top six. Nevertheless, no one should be demanding that the Bruins stick with the same lineup at center this year. Despite the fact that he only attempted 637 faceoffs during the entire season, Stamkos also won 56% of his faceoffs the previous year. Though not nearly as huge as Zacha’s 1,068 faceoff attempts and 54.8% win percentage, or Coyle’s 1477 faceoffs and 51.6% win rate, this sample size is nonetheless substantial. However, Coyle’s return to the third line may present the Bruins with their best opportunity to increase their sub-50 percent faceoff win percentage.
A problem for a team that formerly took pleasure in initiating possessions with the puck during the Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci era is that the Bruins did not have another player who won more than 50% of his draws during the previous season save John Beecher. Stamkos gives the Bruins stronger faceoff alternatives up and down the lineup, which helps to correct issue.
On July 1st, will Stamkos be a free agent? That’s very much conceivable. Will other general managers even consider making an offer to the seasoned forward? This may be the point at which the hypothetical fails.
While Stamkos might weigh his alternatives, it wouldn’t be shocking if he let the Lightning an extra season to complete some additional summer deals before agreeing to a contract that benefits both parties. But if there’s any chance that Stamkos may join the Black and Gold come next season, Sweeney needs to at least give it a go by calling to see what might be involved in a possible trade.
It makes little sense for a player nearing the end of his career to lock in huge money for the long run. However, Sweeney could have to make concessions in order to close a deal because the NHL has high operating costs. It’s unclear, though, how much wiggle room he would feel comfortable giving. To be honest, Stamkos is definitely worth the risk, particularly if doing so would allow the Bruins to lessen their division opponent Lightning team. However, the Lightning wouldn’t want to let Stamkos go for the same reasons that the Bruins would want to sign him.
This offseason, the Bruins have a lot of decisions to make, but if Stamkos and the team share interest, it might be worthwhile to give him a try. He would soon take precedence.