Community Picks: Nashville Predators 0% vs Tampa Bay Lightning 0%

Steven Stamkos holds a lot of the power in his current contract situation with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Part of this comes from the fact that the 26-year-old Stamkos has a no-movement clause. On Thursday Stamkos was asked him how he would handle the no-move clause if Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman asked him to waive it . The NHL’s trade deadline is Feb. 29 and Stamkos is a pending unrestricted free agent.  “I think the answer is we’ll cross that bridge at the time,” Stamkos said. “I don’t think it’s that time right [now]. So, I continue to come to the rink every day as the leader that I am and the teammate that everyone in this room knows that I am, and give my best effort. I’ve said that since Day 1 of training camp and that hasn’t changed.” He was also asked if he would not waive it, just order to end speculation and move forward with the Lightning for the remainder of the season.   "We've kept everything to ourselves and I know it (stinks) for you guys (media), I totally understand. But I think you can appreciate the way we've conducted doing business and whatever happens in the next couple weeks, there's obviously going to be some answers."  TSN notes that saying so would to antithetical to the secrecy of negotiations agreed upon between the Lightning and his agent, Don Meehan.    To come out and say he would not accept a trade if one was presented would be to go against everything Stamkos and agent Don Meehan have done and said so far. Yzerman has kept that pact of silence and has not negotiated through the media. Moreover, it is a hypothetical situation. There is no reason for Stamkos to paint himself into a corner.  Meehan went on Sportsnet 590 in Toronto on Wednesday and didn’t say much as far as the talks with the Lightning.  “They’re productive. All of our discussions have been productive, they’ve been professional,” he said. “Tampa understands and appreciates the fact that Steven has every right and ability to take as much time as necessary to make a decision in relation to his future. That’s really what we’re engaged in at this point in time.” Stamkos is in the final season of a five-year $37.5 million contract. The Lightning reportedly offered Stamkos, a former 60-goal scorer, an eight-year deal worth $8.5 million per-season . It’s believed Stamkos will command near $12 million per-year. Stamkos has 21 goals and 19 assists in 53 games played this year. MORE FROM YAHOO HOCKEY   - - - - - - - Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper Continue to Article

February 11, 2016 10:14:pm EST

Consecutive road losses by a total of six goals might have humbled Tampa Bay, but that seems easily correctable with it returning to a home winning streak that's nearing the level of its franchise record from last season. The Lightning begin a four-game homestand Friday night against the Nashville Predators, who conversely should be eager to try to continue an impressive road winning streak after a sluggish homestand. Tampa Bay (29-20-4) fell 4-2 in Montreal on Tuesday following Monday's 5-1 defeat in Ottawa to match its two-game high for goals allowed. Continue to Article

February 11, 2016 9:23:pm EST

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jason Garrison will miss the next three-to-five weeks with a lower body injury, the team announced Thursday. Garrison was injured in Monday’s 5-1 loss at the Ottawa Senators. He took three more shifts after a first period collision with Bobby Ryan, but did not return for the final two periods according to the Tampa Tribune. "That's a tough one too, because he's a big minute-munching defenseman for us," Lightning coach Jon Cooper told reporters. "A big body and size."  Garrison has four goals and three assists and had played in all of Tampa’s 52 games before the injury. He averages 18:23 of ice-time per-contest, which ranks third amongst Tampa Bay blueliners. According to War on Ice , Garrison has a 50.29 CF% and a minus-2.72 CF Rel%.  This means the Lightning posses the puck more than their opponents when he’s on the ice, but less relative to the rest of the group.  The Tampa Bay Times notes Matt Carle will likely slide back into the lineup, but this injury could make the team look to bolster blueline depth around the NHL’s Feb. 29 trade deadline. Last season Garrison had four goals and 30 points in 70 games played. He was a plus-27.  MORE FROM YAHOO HOCKEY - - - - - - - Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper   Continue to Article

February 11, 2016 12:25:pm EST

Tomas Plekanec has stepped up his game lately, and the Montreal Canadiens are returning to their early season winning ways. Plekanec scored twice and added an assist, helping the Canadiens to a 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night that extended Montreal's win streak to three games. After going seven games without a goal, Plekanec has seven points in his last three games, with three goals and four assists. Continue to Article

February 10, 2016 12:28:am EST

Joey Alfieri tells you which goalies to start and sit this week. Continue to Article

February 09, 2016 5:01:pm EST