Stamkos saga drags on
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Stamkos saga drags on
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
The agent for Tampa Bay superstar Steven Stamkos and Lightning GM Steve Yzerman met on Wednesday and will meet again on Thursday.
Do not expect a deal to be hammered out for a few days, sources said.
Yzerman told the St. Pete Times that he and Stamkos' agent, Don Meehan, continue to work toward a middle ground.
Stamkos' camp is very happy that other teams like the Flyers and Toronto are driving up the forward's price by showing some interest.
In the end, I'm told by someone close to the situation, Stamkos will stay in Tampa unless there's a "ridiculous" offer.
An NHL source familiar with the Flyers situation told me on Wedneday afternoon that the odds were "less than" 50/50 that the club would sign an offer sheet for the RFA. Tampa can match any offer, and Yzerman has told people the Bolts plan to do just that.
Stay tuned.
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How long until Frank Seravalli types up his "rebuttal" saying a deal is imminent?— phillipkatz- I believe Frank made it quite clear on his first post on this story that the deal would probably would only happen if Stamkos would have a want to play in Philly. His follow-ups were on the scenarios that would make such a thing happen. It's also quite clear that Stamkos doesn't really care to play in Philly, he just cares about making the most money, which is fine. This deal isn't happening for Philly. — Voytas
- Frank has been eerily quiet today...— monty142
- The red zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers...the white zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers.— booman55
Comment removed.- that comments leaves the door open that some team other than Tampa could land Stamkos....hand in an offer and see what the heck happens. Worst case, you lost a piece of paper and you go out and sign all your players and prepare for next season...— wcdave
- Tampa HAS TO re-sign him. It doesn't mean that they won't work out a sign & trade deal, but they can't just let him walk away.— yobill626
- If the contract offer is structured correctly, the Flyers can make it impossible for TB to match. I'm sure that's what the brass is doing right now -- figuring out the best way to build a deal that makes Stamkos a lock to come here.— jpk
- The silent Twitter war between Carchidi and Seravali is almost as good as the open one between Richards / Panacio. Or Carchidi / Brett Myers press conference a few years back...— JesseH
- Some people are so silly. 1st, no one has said a "deal" is imminent. The question is whether or not the Flyers offer an offer sheet. Nothing more. Just because you offer doesn't mean it's accepted. Just because it's accepted, doesn't mean TB won't match. The intrigue is strictly whether or not the Flyers will make that offer.
Other than that, seriously, what else is TB supposed to say with the prospect of 3-4 teams coming with offer sheets for their player? Of course they're going to say they'll match. The idea would be to dissuade anyone from even bothering. I can't believe ANYONE is acting as if just because TB says they'll match actually means they will. Sure, it's likely they wouldn't let such a talent go, but I sure don't expect them to say "wow, we can't match creative offers for Stamkos". Who does that? Who has time?— PhilaPhans 
Really? Tampa has told people they plan to match? i thought they would just say actually if another NHL team offers Stamkos more than $7mil we're just gonna let him walk anyway— MPatt24- I actually think Toronto has the BEST shot at getting him, although I would LOVE it if the Flyers did!— uncle meat
- Carchidi is always wrong, I'm surprised people actually consider his work meaningful. I am on the Seravalli side on this one! Go Frank!!— UncleEddie
- If the Flyers made an offer with a riduculous signing bonus as part of the deal they could get him. Just like they did when they went after Chris Gratton. Tampa can' afford $10.M plus in a bonus all at once. Just hope Stevie Y is still using Esposito's old fax machine.— mikegdj
- Sam vs Frank......lets get ready to rumble.— Romus
