The question for Steven Stamkos and his agents: What means more, location or money?
If money is the answer, Stamkos will be leaving the Tampa Bay Lightning, either at the trade deadline or as a free agent at the end of the season. If location is the answer, Stamkos will remain with the Lightning, even if he doesn’t necessarily get to play centre for coach John Cooper.
The Lightning have made a rather miniscule public offer of $68 million over eight seasons for the high-scoring star.
His agents, Newport Sports, have determined the open market value for Stamkos is somewhere between $11 and $12 million per season.