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The rumor is now confirmed for Martin St-Louis and Stamkos
The rumor linking Steven Stamkos to Martin St-Louis and the Montreal Canadiens is now confirmed. Many people naturally make that connection, although it's hard to believe.
Almost every time a star is linked to Montreal, they end up elsewhere. So, it's difficult to believe that a future Hall of Famer like Steven Stamkos would want to join the Habs.
However, a new piece of information has been added to the rumors, confirming Stamkos's interest in the city. According to reputable Tampa Bay journalist Eduardo A. Encina, the Lightning captain holds St-Louis in very high esteem.
"Encina stated on Tony Marinaro's Sick Podcast that Stamkos still highly respects St-Louis to this day. Stamkos hasn't forgotten everything St-Louis did for him in his early NHL days, and according to Encina, the Lightning captain knows that it's partly thanks to MSL that he was able to taste success with the Lightning.
Encina adds that Stamkos dreams of playing for one of the Original Six teams, and he has always appreciated the Canadiens' organization and history. That's significant.
Obviously, Stamkos's priority is probably to stay in Tampa Bay, but the current state of the salary cap doesn't allow them to make big moves. Additionally, with Vincent Lecavalier also with the Canadiens, it adds another layer to the situation.
Historically, especially with St-Louis and Lecavalier, the Lightning have let go of their stars when they've reached an older age. They don't insist on keeping them like the Penguins and the Capitals.
Indeed, St-Louis left for New York, while Lecavalier went to Philadelphia, then Los Angeles to finish their careers. Could the same logic be applied to Stamkos's future at 34 years old? It's something to consider.
| POLL | ||
MAI 2 | 483 ANSWERS The rumor is now confirmed for Martin St-Louis and Stamkos Do you believe in Steven Stamkos coming to Montreal? | ||
| Yes | 102 | 21.1 % |
| No | 381 | 78.9 % |
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