Explosive Report: Red Wings were on the verge of signing Steven Stamkos
Photo credit: https://www.usatoday.com/videos/sports/nhl/predators/2024/10/17/steven-stamkos-on-the-nashville-predators-mindset-taking-on-oilers/75718069007/
Just how close were the Red Wings to signing high-profile free-agent Steven Stamkos this summer?
The Red Wings lost several roster players from last year's team that came within a point of a playoff berth, and GM Steve Yzerman made a small handful of additions.
But just how close were the Red Wings to making a major splash?
During a recent segment from the local Woodward Sports Network, host Terry Foster revealed a wild offseason scenario that nearly played out, but was broken up at the last minute.
Foster said the Red Wings were in on former Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos.
Everybody wants to talk about the Yzerplan. Well, he talked to a high-priced, high-profile free agent. You ever hear of Steven Stamkos?
Yzerman knew that Tamp couldn't match, they were going to have to let him go.
Yzerman knew that Tamp couldn't match, they were going to have to let him go.
So, he talked to Stamkos.....Yzerman offered Stamkos a three-year deal, basically for the money that he's getting now ($8 million AAV).
Without naming sources, Foster said that Yzerman told Stamkos that he'd match the incoming offer from Nashville of a fourth year on the contract, and that he went to talk to Red Wings CEO Chris Ilitch.
Then there's a little pause, and Nashville comes up and says we'll give you four years. Yzerman says hang on, we'll match.
He goes to Chris Ilitch, saying we can get Steven Stamkos, I know he's a little bit old but he can still play. I offered him three years, Nashville offered him four.
He goes to Chris Ilitch, saying we can get Steven Stamkos, I know he's a little bit old but he can still play. I offered him three years, Nashville offered him four.
According to Foster, Yzerman never heard back from Ilitch, and Stamkos was off to Nashville as a result.
Chris Ilitch said I'll get back to you. Yzerman said get back, because this needs to be quick, I need to hear from you today or tomorrow.
He never heard back from the man. Nothing. Crickets.
He never heard back from the man. Nothing. Crickets.
While Foster didn't offer any of his sources or proof of this, the Stamkos connection to Detroit would make sense considering Yzerman was his GM in Tampa Bay, as well as former Lightning assistant Derek Lalonde now serving as Detroit's head coach.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 22 | 131 ANSWERS Explosive Report: Red Wings were on the verge of signing Steven Stamkos Which free agent signing will pay off most for Detroit this season? | ||
| Vladimir Tarasenko | 18 | 13.7 % |
| Cam Talbot | 104 | 79.4 % |
| Erik Gustafsson | 5 | 3.8 % |
| Tyler Motte | 4 | 3.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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