Steven Stamkos' future with the Tampa Bay Lightning remains a prime topic in the NHL media rumor mill.
The 34-year-old Lightning captain is completing an eight-year contract with an $8.50-million annual cap hit. Entering training camp last September, he didn't hide his disappointment over the lack of extension talks with GM Julien BriseBois.
Both sides agreed to wait until the end of this season to open negotiations. Following the Lightning's elimination from the playoffs, BriseBois indicated those discussions had already started, while Stamkos said he was relieved and excited.
Since then, there's been little to report regarding those talks, though it's believed they're ongoing. The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported last week that those discussions could go right up to July 1.
Meanwhile, some observers wonder which Lightning players will become salary cap casualties as BriseBois seeks to free up cap space for Stamkos' new contract.
That picture got muddied last week with BriseBois' surprising reacquisition of Ryan McDonagh from the Nashville Predators. The Lightning GM shipped McDonagh to the Predators two years ago to shed his $6.75-million annual cap hit. He's now taken back the full value of the final two years of the 34-year-old defenseman's contract.
Following the McDonagh trade, The Hockey News' Michael DeRosa suggested defenseman Erik Cernak, center Anthony Cirelli and winger Tanner Jeannot as cost-cutting trade candidates. He also proposed Conor Sheary as another option.
Cernak and Cirelli are valuable core players who would be difficult for the cap-strapped Lightning to replace. Jeannot, however, could become expendable. Acquired before last year's trade deadline, he struggled with the Lightning this season as a checking-line winger.
DeRosa cited Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek discussing Jeannot as a player to watch, with Marek suggesting the rugged 26-year-old winger might be a good addition for the Calgary Flames. Michael Augello suggested Jeannot as a trade target for the Buffalo Sabres.
Jeannot's contract could complicate the Lightning's efforts to peddle him in this summer's trade market. He's signed through next season with an affordable cap hit of $2.665 million but he also has a 16-team no-trade list, giving him a measure of control over the process.
