Sorry, Maple Leafs fans - there's always next year. Or, more accurately, this offseason. Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman released a statement Monday announcing that Lightning captain Steven Stamkos will not be traded prior to the deadline later this month. Stamkos, playing out the final year of his current deal, has long been considered a potential trade candidate if the Lightning didn't believe it could sign him to what is expected to be a mammoth extension this season. That, it seems, won't be the case.
"As February 29th approaches, I am stating today that Steven Stamkos will not be traded before the NHL's trade deadline," Yzerman said, via the team's website. "I have said repeatedly that it is our hope to reach an agreement with Steven on a new contract at some point, and with 27 games remaining in the season, our entire organization, Steven included, wants to focus on making the playoffs. I will keep the negotiating process strictly between the involved parties and have no further comment on the state of those negotiations."
Little in the way of information has leaked regarding the contract negotiations between the two sides, which many have taken as a sign that headway has not been made toward locking Stamkos up. As a native Torontonian, Stamkos' name has continually been connected with the Maple Leafs in those - often fanciful - trade talks, but we now know for certain that if Stamkos does eventually end up a member of another NHL franchise it won't come until July at the earliest.
Elsewhere around the league, the Buffalo Sabres have suspended forward Evander Kane after Kane overslept, according to Bill Hoppe of the Times Herald. Kane has been a fantastic fit in Buffalo thus far after his midseason trade from Winnipeg last season, but this has to be troubling for the Sabres and their fans.
Kane's time in Winnipeg was marked by immaturity and inconsistency and while he has played well thus far during his first season with the Sabres - he has 16 goals and 24 points through 47 games - any sign of the old Evander is certainly cause for concern. Kane will miss the Sabres' next game against the Ottawa Senators, per Joe Yerdon of NHL.com.
