NHL free agency 2016: What's next for Steven Stamkos suitors?

When Steven Stamkos decided his heart was in Tampa Bay by agreeing to an eight-year extension Wednesday, it meant that a handful of teams were forced to shift the focus of their free agent shopping plans. Here’s a look at Plan B for those teams that were planning to bid on Stamkos, with all salary cap information coming from generalfanager.com:

Boston Bruins

Salary cap space: $19.2 million

Players to sign: Nine

Losing: Loui Eriksson, Chris Kelly, Lee Stempniak and Jonas Gustavsson

What’s next: The Bruins need to find a scoring winger to replace Eriksson and must address the erosion of their defensive capabilities.

Possible targets. Kyle Okposo, Jason Demers or Cam Fowler (through a trade)

Buffalo Sabres

Salary cap: $19.5 million

Players to sign: Five, including RFAs Rasmus Ristolainen, Jake McCabe, Marcus Foligno and Zemgus Girgensons

Losing: David Legwand

What’s next: Still in a rebuilding mode, the Sabres won’t sign players just to sign players. General manager Tim Murray will look for veteran scoring wingers or veteran defenseman on shorter contracts.

Possible targets: Lee Stempniak or Brian Campbell

Detroit Red Wings

Salary cap space: $18 million

Players to sign:  Five, including RFAs Petr Mrazek, Danny Dekeyser and Teemu Pulkkinen

Losing: Darren Helm, Brad Richards, Kyle Quincey

What’s next: The Red Wings want to add toughness and scoring, and they are thin at center. They also need to upgrade their defense, but the free agent defensemen crop isn’t bountiful.

Possible targets: Troy Brouwer, Milan Lucic, David Backes, Kyle Okposo

New York Islanders

Salary cap: $15.4 million

Players to sign: Six, including RFAs Ryan Strome and Shane Prince

Losing: Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen and Matt Martin

What’s next: Need a scoring winger to play with John Tavares.

Possible targets: Eriksson, Mikkel Boedker, Andrew Ladd

Toronto Maple Leafs

Salary cap space: $6.9 million

Players to sign: Three, including RFAs Peter Holland and Martin Marincin

Losing: P.A. Parenteau, Michael Grabner and Brad Boyes

What’s next: The Leafs have an additional $8.3 million in cap space because Nathan Horton and Stephane Robidas are on the long-term injury list. With Stamkos off the board, the rebuilding Maple Leafs may not do much. The Leafs wanted him because he is a superstar still young enough to fit into their group. They want to add some toughness and grit.

Possible targets: Martin

Vancouver Canucks

Salary cap space: $10.1 million

Players to sign: Two

Losing: Dan Hamhuis, Radim Vrbata, Linden Vey and Matt Bartkowski

What’s next: The Canucks are caught in the in-between stage where they have too much talent, thanks to the Sedin twins, to rebuild and not enough to contend. They are looking for a fire-starter who can rally them.

Possible targets: Lucic or Okposo