Major Blockbuster Steven Stamkos Trade Rejected By Ownership At The Last Second
Steven Stamkos was nearly traded over a decade ago and the trade would have changed the entire history of the NHL.
Stamkos Almost Traded To New York
A surprising revelation has surfaced on social media, shedding light on a failed blockbuster trade between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Rangers in 2010. This trade would have sent Tampa Bay's 20-year-old star, Steven Stamkos, to the Rangers in exchange for two promising young players.
In 2010, halfway through Stamkos' unreal sophomore season - there was a rumoured package that had to be vetoed by the Tampa Bay Co-Owner that looked like:
To New York Rangers:
� Steven Stamkos
To Tampa Bay Lightning - any 2 of the following:
� Michael Del Zotto
� Ryan Callahan
� Brandon Dubinsky
� Dan Girardi
� Evegny Grachev...
...The trade was shaken on but got vetoed at the last second.
To New York Rangers:
� Steven Stamkos
To Tampa Bay Lightning - any 2 of the following:
� Michael Del Zotto
� Ryan Callahan
� Brandon Dubinsky
� Dan Girardi
� Evegny Grachev...
...The trade was shaken on but got vetoed at the last second.
This aborted trade had the potential to reshape the NHL landscape, with the Rangers acquiring a young Steven Stamkos in exchange for what seemed like the relatively modest assets of Ryan Callahan and Dan Girardi.
How it Would Have Affected The League
The original post discussed the possible consequences of this trade, and it's clear that the most significant impact would have been felt in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Most of the players offered to Tampa Bay in the trade package weren't even in the NHL during the Lightning's dominant era. Among those still playing at that time, none were considered impact players.
Stamkos, on the other hand, consistently scored goals for the Lightning during their dynasty years. Removing Stamkos from those Lightning teams would likely have transformed them from the best team into a very good team. History has shown that very good teams rarely become dynasties.
Furthermore, if Stamkos had been part of the Rangers during their 2014 Stanley Cup run, it could have changed the outcome of that series. The Rangers narrowly lost in five games, with three of those losses occurring in overtime. Adding a player of Stamkos' caliber, known for prolific scoring, might have given the Rangers the offensive firepower needed to potentially win the series.
While we can only speculate about the consequences of this unrealized trade, one thing is certain: the entire landscape of the NHL would have been significantly different if this deal had gone through.
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3 SEPTEMBRE | 1 ANSWERS Major Blockbuster Steven Stamkos Trade Rejected By Ownership At The Last Second Would the Rangers have won multiple Stanley Cups with Stamkos? | ||
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