From the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch:

All that matters in the next 70 days on the NHL trade market is what takes places between Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

When the Lightning captain was drafted No. 1 overall by the Bolts in the 2008 NHL entry draft, the organization posted billboards across town with the slogan “Seen Stamkos” plastered on it. The issue this season is nobody has seen the 25-year-old Stamkos sign a contract extension, and the clock is ticking.

Set to become a UFA on July 1, Stamkos will control what kind of trade deadline day the networks in Canada are going to have on Feb. 29, because if he hasn’t signed a contract with the Bolts by then, GM Steve Yzerman will have to decide what his next move is going to be.

If Stamkos isn’t signed, the speculation will be on high.

To make matters more interesting, Stamkos has a ‘no move’ clause, so he controls his own destiny if he decides to sign there.

Continued with more trade rumors...