Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Sign Steven Stamkos

08/20/2015 at 8:20am EDT

from Martin Fennelly of the Tampa Tribune,

Uncertainty about Stamkos’ long-term status is a distraction to this team, this franchise and this player. Do the Lightning really need a distracted captain? Didn’t they try that with Marty St. Louis?

I’m not crazy concerned yet.

The Lightning need Stamkos. I think Stamkos needs the Lightning.

He’s a generational scorer. They’re a young contender.

Deal, please.

But there are a lot of moving parts. Maybe no villains — yet — but moving parts.

Clearly, Don Meehan, whose agency represents Stamkos, wants to break the bank, set the bar high. Jonathan Toews/Patrick Kane high. Those Cup winners’ contract extensions are eight years apiece, $84 million, a $10.5 million cap hit for each of them.

Wonder how the Blackhawks feel about Kane’s off-ice troubles right about now.

Where were we?

Then there’s the Lightning side, where Yzerman has to factor in looming costs.

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About Kukla's Korner Hockey

Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

Email Paul anytime at [email protected]

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