Throughout the entirety of the season, the question has been whether or not Steven Stamkos would remain a Bolt after the season ended.
When the team plane landed in Tampa following the Lightning’s first round exit to the Florida Panthers, GM Julien BriseBois approached Stamkos about his interest in an extension.
In May, the Lightning made the unexpected, but welcomed decision to reunite with a familiar face, defenseman Ryan McDonagh. Stamkos and McDonagh won two Stanley Cups together and remain close on and off the ice.
According to Cap Friendly, McDonagh's $6.75 million cap hit puts the Lightning $5.3 million under the salary cap with just 18 players signed to NHL contracts. In a press conference following the acquisition of McDonagh, BriseBois confirmed he still had enough left to re-sign Stamkos and said that negotiations were ongoing.
Where things stand in June
Negotiations are still in progress and the Lightning are likely going to get creative. In his last contract, Stamkos signed for 8 years with an average annual salary of $8,500,000.
One thing is certain, the Lightning still firmly believe their Stanley Cup window is open and the Bolts captain remains a key piece to the puzzle. Given where they stand with the salary cap, an option could be to structure Stamkos' contract to have more signing bonus in the first few years and more base salary in the final years, in order to reduce the annual salary cap hit.
They could also take the route used for Alex Killorn before he signed with the Anaheim Ducks, which included a long-term deal at a low AAV. I see that as a less likely option for Stamkos though. He’s the captain of the team and his leadership is immeasurable.
While the Lightning still have enough space to cover a contract for Stamkos, that still leaves a handful of roster spots that will need to be filled. Players like Emil Lilleberg ($870K ) and Max Crozier ($867.5K) help relieve some of that, but the Lightning are still in need of middle-six forwards. Stamkos has made it clear that winning is still what fuels him, which could play a part into where the numbers land for both parties.
"This is all we know since day one of our NHL careers is playing here. We want to win for ourselves and the guys in that room, but for our fans and the community as well,” said Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman.
Hedman finds himself in a similar situation that Stamkos was in last year, with his contract set to expire at the end of next season. The two have spent their entire careers together in a Lightning uniform and are best friends off the ice. You could almost consider them a package deal at this point. If one stays, so does the other.
BriseBois made it clear that re-signing the six-time Norris Trophy nominee is also a priority for the organization.
Stamkos wants to stay, the Lightning want to keep him
“It's really cool to be able to play in the community and climate that we do and to have the lifestyle that we have, but to have the support is everything. That's why we always say, it's the best place in the world to play hockey.”
When you think of the Tampa Bay Lightning, you think of Steven Stamkos. He was the No. 1 pick in the 2008 NHL draft and 16 years later he’s the captain of the team and the face of the Lightning franchise.
Since the conclusion of the season, on any given day, you can walk into a random restaurant in Tampa and hear people talking about whether or not Stamkos will be signed. He's earned the overwhelming respect of the Lightning fanbase, and when you ask Stamkos about what the city means to him, the feeling is mutual.
“This city means a lot to me. I love coming to the rink every day and I love interacting with our fans. Everything that is hockey in this city is amazing and I love it,” Stamkos said.
Stamkos is the third player in franchise history to reach 100 postseason points and was undoubtably the Lightning's best player in round one against Florida.
“Obviously Steven Stamkos needs a contract and we want him to be a part of that group,” BriseBois said at exit interviews.
“We strive for excellence with humility," said BriseBois. "Steven Stamkos has always represented excellence with humility, and never more so than these past few months. And the aim is for him to continue to play on a contending Tampa Bay Lightning team going forward.”
After starting the 2023-24 season with a level of uncertainty, at least from the outside looking in, it was clear at exit interviews that both Stamkos and BriseBois were on the same page. One by one, each player weighed in on the importance of keeping their captain in a Lightning uniform.
The Lightning have until July 1, when Stamkos becomes an UFA.
