Steven Stamkos Will Not Be Traded By Tampa Prior to Trade Deadline

Steven Stamkos the captain for the Tampa Bay Lightning will not be traded by the club prior to the NHL Trade Deadline on February 29 at 3 p.m., said Steve Yzerman the team’s general manager on Monday.

Stamkos is in the last season of his contract of 5 years and $37.5 billion, which has a charge on the salary cap of $7.5 million for this season. If not signed by Tampa Bay before July 1, Stamkos will be an unrestricted free agent.

Yzerman on Monday said that as the trade deadline of February 29 approaches, he want to say that Stamkos would not be traded prior to the trade deadline.

Yzerman added that he has repeatedly said that it is the hope of the club to reach a new agreement with Steve at some point and as there are 27 games still remaining for the season and the organization and especially Steven want to focus on reaching the playoffs.

The Tampa Bay GM added that he would keep the process of negotiations strictly between those parties involved and would make no further comment on the state of the negotiations.

Stamkos, who has a clause of “no-movement” in his contract, has been eligible since July of 2015 to sign a deal of up to eight years with Tampa Bay.

If he enters the free agent market and signs with another NHL team on or following July 1, 2016 the deal length cannot be longer than 7 seasons.

Last Tuesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs traded Dion Phaneuf the team captain to Ottawa in a deal involving nine players. That raised speculation at that time they were opening up space under the salary cap to go after Stamkos, who hails from Ontario. However, the Yzerman statement on Monday puts a damper on the speculation.

Two Chicago players Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane signed 8-year deals for $84 million prior to becoming NHL free agents, while Anze Kopitar the center for Los Angeles signed a deal of 8 years as well for $80 million.

Those deals will likely serve as comparables by Stamkos and those who represent him.

A Stamkos agent said the negotiations were productive with each side doing their own due diligence as they look to a long-term deal.

In July of 2011, Stamkos became a restricted free agent and took 18 days prior to signing the current deal.

This season in 55 games he has scored 42 points overall with 22 goals.