Team: 2020-21 New York Rangers

Initial Creation Date: Sep. 8, 2020

Published: Sep. 8, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

So I’m sure I’ll get some hate comments here but hear me out. In any previous year, Steven Stamkos is untouchable unless a bundle of goodies is coming back and even then, they still likely say no. However, now that the Bolts are up against the cap, big salary will have to be shed in the offseason and due to Stamkos’ recent injury history plus the fact that Brayden Point has now more or less surpassed Stamkos on the depth chart, I can easily see Stamkos waiving his NMC and both sides mutually parting ways via trade. Unfortunately though, because of the constant injuries and the fact that Stamkos is now 30 years old which also means only a few good years left in him if he stays healthy, his value has dropped significantly and there’s no world where the Lightning can ever get everything they want for him. Buchnevich, Andersson, a 1st, and a 2nd is honestly being generous at this point and Tampa Bay may not have a choice in the matter in terms of accepting the offer if this is the best offer available to them. On the Rangers end of things, yes they’ll have to clear a little cap and trade most of their current RFAs since they’ll be too expensive now that Lundqvist will probably play out the final year of his contract, but if they do things properly, then they can take on Stamkos’ large cap hit. It’s a very high risk, high reward move because they could be filling that missing spot at center with one of the premium goal scorers in the league, or they could be getting a guy who can’t stay healthy and is highly overpaid for it. Granted the Rangers have arguably the best medical staff in the league and maybe that could help Stamkos stay off the IR more often. Regardless, while I don’t think it happens, I do think that it’s something worth looking into. Just saying.

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