Tampa Bay Lightning Need To Make A Decision On Steven Stamkos

The Tampa Bay Lightning are in a terrible spot right now. After 32 games, they only have 35 points. If the season ended today this team would not be in the playoffs.

The season is far from over for Tampa. They are only one point out of a playoff spot and the Eastern Conference is such a cluster, one winning streak could solidify their spot. The Lightning still have one of the best young cores of any team in the league. The biggest problem for the Lightning is how many big decisions the Lightning have to make this offseason.

The team has a ton of restricted free agents this year. Two players, Alex Killorn and Nikita Kucherov, should be expected to get hefty raises. It is hard to even figure out how much these two players are worth, and whether the Lightning will be able to sign them.

Of course, the biggest decision the Lightning need to make is what to do with Steven Stamkos. Their captain and best player is leading the team in points with 22. He is one of the best players in the league. If he is able to make the free agent market, he will be the best player on the market in years. There is a good chance he will have an average annual value breaking $11 million per season. It is hard to find that in most budgets, especially when the Lightning need to pay a lot more young players.

If the Lightning miss the playoffs and lose out on Stamkos in free agency, it will be one of the worst years for a team that was in the Stanley Cup the year before. Look at the team just ahead of the Lightning in the New Jersey Devils. They made the finals in 2012, and then lost Zach Parise in the offseason. The team went into a downward spiral from after that. The Lightning need to avoid a similar descent.

If the Lightning feel like Stamkos is not coming back, they need to trade him. They should even think of trading him soon to maximize his value. They would be able to get one of the biggest returns for a trade ever for one of the best players in the league. Even as a rental, Stamkos is worth a ton. He is 25 years old and can score 50 a season if he wanted.

The Lightning should only do this if Stamkos is not a part of their future. He is one of the very best players, and there is no way they get that back in the trade. If he has a chance to re-sign, the Lightning need to go for it. Either way, the Lightning need to make a decision. They are having an average season, especially on offense. Before this becomes a lost season, GM Steve Yzerman needs to figure out what to do with his star player.