Flames general manager Brad Treliving has made plenty of phone calls over the last week, looking for the help his squad needs. The biggest concern is a lack of scoring as the team has just 15 goals and that has led to rumors of a possible deal for Tampa Bay Lightnings star Steven Stamkos.
The 25-year-old center has failed to sign an extension with Tampa Bay, leading hockey experts to believe a trade could happen, especially if the talks drag on with no movement from either side.
Speculation of a possible move have surrounded the Lightning since winning the Stanley Cup and those rumors will escalate as the year moves on.
With five goals and seven points through nine games this season and 505 total points already in his career, Stamkos would add some offensive punch to the dismal Flames lineup and possibly lead them to another berth in the playoffs.
Mark Spector of SportsNet has already put a package together, sending youngster Sam Bennett and possibly Sean Monahan, who many believe is one player Calgary wouldn’t move, to Tampa Bay for the high-scoring center.
Trades at this time of year are rare, in fact not much movement generally happens around the league until a few weeks before the NHL trade deadline, but there’s little doubt that several franchises have already asked about the possible services of Stamkos and while Lightnings general manager Steve Yzerman isn’t in a rush to move their star player, a deal with the two players mentioned above, along with a high round draft pick next summer, just might get a deal done and the Flames on their way to winning more hockey games.
