Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Triplets have been the best players in this year’s playoffs. The three of them are better than any line in the NHL right now. The fact that they weren’t even the No. 1 line on the Tampa Bay Lightning makes it even more impressive.
The Triplets consists of Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov. Johnson and Kucherov are first and second in points in the playoffs. This line has contributed half of the game-winning goals for the Lightning in the playoffs. When the team needs a goal, head coach Jon Cooper is calling on this line to deliver. That is great for this team and their run, but what does it mean for Steven Stamkos?
Stamkos is looking to get paid this offseason. Many are saying he is worthy of the type of deal that his current opponents Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews just signed, which will pay them an average of $10.5 million over eight seasons. That kind of money will really strap a team’s cap, especially since it did not grow to the number many owners were hoping it would.
The Triplets are going to make a little over a combined $7.5 million. There is no doubt that Stamkos will look to make at least that per season. Kucherov’s contract is done after next season, and Palat and Johnson become free agents the year after that. They will all look to make significantly more money.
The situation has even caused some analysts to speculate whether the Lightning would think of trading their captain. While the team has shown no signs of this, one has to wonder.
The Lightning currently have a one-game lead over the powerhouse Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup final. That comes with Stamkos scoring zero points. The team is showing that it doesn’t need the offensive gifts that Stamkos has to win. They are winning despite of him at this point.
Coming into the Final, Stamkos was making an argument for being the best player in the NHL. That seems to be out the window right now. He won’t be the highest paid player either (at least not with Tampa). If he came into this series and put the Lightning on his back on the way to the franchise’s second Stanley Cup, then Steve Yzerman would have no choice but to give him a blank check to bring him back. That isn’t the case.
Whether it is because of his poor performance, how well the Triplets have played or a combination of both, Stamkos will miss out on a lot of money. The last giant contract the Lightning gave out was to Vinny Lecavalier, who they had to cut just four years into his 11-year deal. The Lightning cannot afford to make another mistake like that with Stamkos. That will make this offseason very interesting. Obviously, everyone is focused on winning the Cup, but if Stamkos’ play stays the way it has been the past five games, then negotiations could get ugly this offseason.
Nick Villano is the NHL feature writer for Rant Sports. He also adds to the site’s NBA, MLB and NFL content. You can follow him on Twitter or add him to your Google circle.
