New Jersey Devils - Tampa Bay Lightning

[Jets GM]

To the New Jersey Devils:

Steven Stamkos* (81), Carl Sneep (60), Jamie Benn (70), Fredrik Sjostrom (62), 1st NYR 2013, 1st MTL 2014 and 2nd STL 2012

To the Tampa Bay Lightning:

Cam Fowler (92), Dainus Zubrus (60) and Vladimir Zharkov (53)

*Stamkos's contract will be reset to it's original terms and length before TB applied the franchise tag. TB agrees to waive their right to a franchise tag for the duration of Stamkos's contract.

Accepted.

[Jets GM]

Reasoning: While Stamkos will always be a respected figure in TB for his role in their Cup run, the emergence of Tyler Seguin and a lack of high quality d-men made him moving a possibility. He is an elite level centremen and will continue to round out his defensive game. TB thanks him for his time and wishes the best in New Jersey for Sir Steven! Carl Sneep is a beast (click here) and Benn can bang bodies. The draft picks even out the gap between Stamkos/Fowler for NJ and makes his top 6 forwards an unparalleled group.

Cam Fowler is a special type of hockey player and will lead TB back to their glory days of EHEC championships, it's an honor to acquire a player of his caliber and look forward to him being a lifelong Bolt. Zubrus and Zharkov were included to make salaries work.

Good luck NJ, and good luck everyone else. TB is coming to whoop some ass.

[Virtual Jarmo]

Just to chime in here...a formal appeal was sent to the League Committee for removal of Steven Stamkos's franchise tag and we accepted the request.

As Justin said, he forfeits his right to use a franchise tag for the duration of Stamkos's contract.

If New Jersey removes the tag, Stamkos will be returned to his original salary and have the length of his contract cut down to 3 years (maximum 4, minus this season). Because New Jersey does not have a player of their own franchise tagged, he would not incur any penalty if he kept the tag on Stamkos. If New Jersey keeps the tag, Stamkos's salary will remain the same.

[Devils_GM]

WOW I don't really believe Cam Fowler won't be a Devil anymore. However this is a crazy good return. Stamkos completes my top 6 Tedenby-Stamkos-Kovalchuk and Elias-Malkin-Zajac that is some top 6. Sneep is a nice replacement on D. Sjostrom fills in a solid bottom 6 option. Benn is a nice Hit and Grind guy. On top of all that I get 2 1sts and a 2nd. This sets us up for now and the future. Great trade for both sides. A decision will be made on Franchise tag at a later date, if that's ok.

[Jets GM]

Trying to clarify this, if the tag is removed I lose the tag for 3 seasons? What happens if he keeps it on?

[Virtual Jarmo]

Trying to clarify this, if the tag is removed I lose the tag for 3 seasons?

Yes.

What happens if he keeps it on?

We will decide that at a later date, probably when NJ makes his decision about keeping it on or not.

[Virtual Jarmo]

Approved.

Committee rationale: It certainly looks like TB is overpaying with the addition of two first rounders and some other things that really overshadow the additional pieces from NJ's side. Keeping in mind that Fowler is a top 5 defenseman in the file, probably now, even before he's fully developed, Tampa Bay should pay a king's ransom to acquire him. Stamkos is a good offensive player. Sneep looks to develop into a solid player. NJ picks up some draft picks and the MTL pick won't make an impact until at least three years from now.

This trade may be a little bit imbalanced, but the value of Fowler is almost immeasurable because of how good he is.

[DallasSean]

Wait wait, I'm confused. I thought Stamkos had a no-trade clause?

[Virtual Jarmo]

Wait wait, I'm confused. I thought Stamkos had a no-trade clause?

Sean, read my first post in the thread.

TB appealed to remove the franchise tag. We accepted his request.

[Virtual Jarmo]

Since we have no written policy on what repercussions there are to a team who removes the franchise tag, but we felt that there needed to be some sort of hardship imposed on the GM, I have determined that the team who trades a franchise tag player will not be able to use a franchise tag for 50% of the duration of the contract, if the acquiring team keeps the tag on.

So, in this case, where NJ is keeping the tag on Stamkos, TB will be without the use of a franchise tag for 5 seasons because Stamkos was signed for 10. Had NJ removed the tag, the previous could not use a franchise tag for the full duration of the contract, which would have been lowered to 4 years or 3 years + TO.

That'll be our policy for teams who trade a franchise tagged player.

[Virtual Jarmo]

Trade inputted.

Stamkos NTC re-applied, injured Sneep and Zubrus traded manually through players.ehm.