With the Lightning recently requiring veteran Ryan McDonagh in a trade with the Nashville Predators, they now are pushed up against the cap and no longer have enough cap-space for the Lightning captain.
As the Bolts have already committed long-term to a plethora of players including Kucherov, Point, Hagel, Vasilevsky and Sergachev, to name a few, it's seeming increasingly likely that Stamkos finds himself headed to free agency.
With rumours swirling around Leafs superstar Mitch Marner, if the former 4th overall pick in 2015 is traded, the blue and white will have plenty of room to sign Stamkos. In the past, there have been rumours of Stamkos considering signing in Toronto. However, those rumours have obviously never materialized.
Stamkos may be on the back 9 of his career, but his leadership, playoff experience and superstar goal-scoring ability would be an incredible asset for the Leafs. The obvious boost on the power play is a plus as well.
