Stamkos sweepstakes never even takes place; what now for the Red Wings?

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Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey

 

By @MichaelCaples –

So much for a wild and crazy July 1 for hockey fans.

Steven Stamkos was expected to hit the open market, a rare opportunity for teams to try to sign a free-agent superstar still in his prime in today’s salary cap-controlled National Hockey League.

Instead, Stamkos will be staying with Tampa Bay, as TSN reports that the former No. 1 pick will ink a long-term extension with the only NHL franchise he has ever known.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland did what he could to position Detroit as a viable destination for Stamkos, had he become available as a free agent. He expertly moved Pavel Datsyuk’s $7.5 million cap hit via trade with the Arizona Coyotes during the first round of the NHL Draft, somehow managing to even pick up an extra second-round pick in a deal that saw him only sacrifice four draft spots (moving from 16th overall to 20th) to unload a massive burden on the Wings’ salary cap just in time to legitimately enter the Stamkos sweepstakes.

According to many reports, Stamkos did speak with other NHL clubs before Wednesday afternoon’s massive news, but apparently, the hockey climate in Florida still looks appealing to No. 91.

So, now that the Wings won’t even get a chance to put a contract in front of Stamkos, where do they go from here?

Not only did the Lightning re-claim their superstar, but the Nashville Predators also surprised the hockey world Wednesday afternoon, somehow landing superstar P.K. Subban. While all the focus heading into free agency was on Stamkos, Subban was emerging as a viable trade target, and the Predators pulled the trigger, sending Shea Weber to Montreal.

With the Red Wings needing to shore things up on the blue line just as much as the forwards unit, Subban would have certainly been a substantial add to the Wings’ roster, though the asking price was clearly high (Weber is one of the best defensemen in the league, as well).

Free-agent forwards remain available, though none command the attention that Steven Stamkos would have received come July 1. According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, Los Angeles Kings forward Milan Lucic will be heading to Edmonton (almost solidified by the fact that the Oilers just shipped out Taylor Hall for New Jersey’s Adam Larsson). That leaves a pair of New York Islanders – Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen – as two of the top free-agent forwards still available, as well as Boston’s Loui Eriksson, Chicago’s Andrew Ladd and Colorado’s Mikkel Boedker.

On the blue line, the top target is Dallas’ Jason Demers and Kris Russell, as well Florida’s Brian Campbell (who is 37 years old).

Holland may be forced to try to improve the Red Wings’ roster via trade this offseason, instead of a shopping spree. Only time will tell how things play out for Hockeytown’s team.