Major Blockbuster Steven Stamkos Trade Rejected By Ownership At The Last Second

A surprising revelation has surfaced on social media, shedding light on a failed blockbuster trade between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Rangers in 2010. This trade would have sent Tampa Bay's 20-year-old star, Steven Stamkos, to the Rangers in exchange for two promising young players.

This aborted trade had the potential to reshape the NHL landscape, with the Rangers acquiring a young Steven Stamkos in exchange for what seemed like the relatively modest assets of Ryan Callahan and Dan Girardi.

The original post discussed the possible consequences of this trade, and it's clear that the most significant impact would have been felt in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Most of the players offered to Tampa Bay in the trade package weren't even in the NHL during the Lightning's dominant era. Among those still playing at that time, none were considered impact players.

Stamkos, on the other hand, consistently scored goals for the Lightning during their dynasty years. Removing Stamkos from those Lightning teams would likely have transformed them from the best team into a very good team. History has shown that very good teams rarely become dynasties.

Furthermore, if Stamkos had been part of the Rangers during their 2014 Stanley Cup run, it could have changed the outcome of that series. The Rangers narrowly lost in five games, with three of those losses occurring in overtime. Adding a player of Stamkos' caliber, known for prolific scoring, might have given the Rangers the offensive firepower needed to potentially win the series.

While we can only speculate about the consequences of this unrealized trade, one thing is certain: the entire landscape of the NHL would have been significantly different if this deal had gone through.

As seen on Markerzone - Stamkos Was Nearly Traded to a Conference Rival in What Would Have Been One of the Most Disastrous Deals of the Century