OK, Maple Leafs and Red Wings — among others — it's on to Plan B.
Now that Steven Stamkos has removed himself from the market, teams that had targeted him when the free-agent window opens Friday have to move on to other players.
The Red Wings could be looking at forwards Troy Brouwer and Kyle Okposo, MLive.com reported, adding that those two are only part of a group of free agents they're interested in. The options also includes David Backes, Mikkel Boedker, Loui Eriksson, Andrew Ladd and Frans Nielsen.
Meanwhile, according to The Toronto Star, the Maple Leafs will shift gears and look at several wingers and defensemen.
Among those mentioned: Brouwer, Okposo and Jiri Hudler up front and Dan Hamhuis and Kris Russell on the back end.
Both teams have options (and cap space), but as the overlapping lists indicate: There will be competition.
The 2016 NHL free-agent signing period opens at noon ET on July 1.
