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Elliotte Friedman was on Toronto’s Sportsnet 590 on Thursday morning.

On if he’s heard anything new on the Steven Stamkos front:

“The only thing I’ve heard is that Tampa is going to try to take another shot at signing him.

“I’ve been steadfast with you guys. I believe his desire, first and foremost, is to stay there. My question is, is Tampa going to get that number into the 9s. If they get that number in the 9s, I think there’s a chance he stays.”

What are the chances they get that number in the 9s?

“That’s a great question. The whole thing I’ve wondered all throughout the year is, ‘What does Steve Yzerman really think of Steven Stamkos as a player.’

“First of all, in the cap world you can’t keep everybody. I wonder too – Hedman is a year away from unrestricted free agency. I can look at Yzerman saying, ‘I’m not going through this again.’ So my big question is, does he try to take care of Hedman this summer too so he knows where Hedman’s number is. Because it could also start with a 9. And if he does that, does he have the room to do Kucherov and Stamkos.

“And somebody is going there. Bishop probably. But I think one of their other players is going to go. Especially now with Drouin stepping up, is there any chance they look at another one of their guys and say, ‘Alright, somebody else has to go to make room for Stamkos.’

“And who is that.”

Source: Sportsnet 590/Transcript: Nichols

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