Journalist Eric Engels shares new information on Stamkos in Montreal

The fact that Stamkos is a former teammate of Martin St-Louis, and is well-acquainted with Vincent Lecavalier and Kent Hughes, has been enough to fuel the rumor mill.

However, contrary to the rumors circulating recently, Sportsnet journalist Eric Engels does not believe that Steven Stamkos will go to Montreal. On the contrary, he is convinced that the team captain will agree to stay with the Tampa Bay Lightning, having reached the 40-goal and 80-point mark last season.

Steven Stamkos as an Acquisition for Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens? Eric Engels Weighs in here's what he mentioned in his most recent article when asked about the possibility of seeing Stamkos as a summer acquisition for the Canadiens.

Question:

«Is Stamkos a realistic option for the Canadiens? And how important would the connection with St-Louis be for Stamkos?»

Eric Engels' Response:

«Not really. But I don't think he will be a realistic option for any team, except the Tampa Bay Lightning. Stamkos wants to retire as a member of that team, and they want to give him a chance to do so. I still think that's the only realistic scenario at the moment (that he returns to the Tampa Bay Lightning). But if things were to break down between Stamkos and the Lightning, I would say that the connection with Martin St-Louis would be one of the only things that could entice Stamkos to consider signing in Montreal.»

While the Canadiens have more salary cap flexibility than the Tampa Bay Lightning, it is clear that Kent Hughes wants to significantly improve his offense for the 2024-2025 campaign. Remaining in the bottom 10 NHL teams for goals scored is out of the question.

On his side, Julien Brisebois had mentioned that he hoped his captain would agree to leave some money on the table to stay in Tampa Bay, given that the organization had been understanding regarding his numerous injuries. The team had extended his contract with a generous offer. He has still pocketed $116.675 million since 2008. Financial worries should not be a major concern.

At 34 years old, Steven Stamkos has slowed down in recent years on the ice, but he remains a natural scorer with a solid offensive instinct. Selected first overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Steven Stamkos recorded a very solid 81 points in 79 games this season, including 40 goals.

It is clear that his next contract cannot exceed three years in length and an average annual salary of $6.5 million. The risks of injury are still very real, as he has often been plagued by them in the past.

Credit: Sportsnet - Eric Engels comments on the potential reunion between Steven Stamkos and Martin St-Louis.