TAMPA β For the previous 16 years, Steven Stamkos has been seen throughout Tampa Bay. From the facet of Amalie Enviornment, on billboards and benches, heβs been the face of the Lightning franchise since he was anointed the savior of the group as an 18-year-old No. 1 draft decide.
He has lifted the Stanley Cup twice, worn the C on his chest with pleasure and humility, and been the main determine in probably the most prolific decade of Lightning hockey. On the ice, he was an elite scorer; within the locker room, he was a consummate chief. He visited hospitals, he offered checks to the Ronald McDonald Home, he gave a era of Lightning followers a famous person they had been proud to name their very own.
However now Stamkos, the one participant who many thought would put on a bolt on his chest for the whole thing of his profession, will play for the Predators, signing a four-year take care of Nashville for a median annual worth of $8 million.
Till the previous few days, followers had hope that the Lightning and their longest-tenured participant would make amends and attain an settlement to maintain their beloved captain in Tampa Bay.
And so did Stamkos.
βItβs been most likely as loopy as you possibly can assume by way of only a roller-coaster of feelings,β Stamkos stated in an interview with TSN shortly after he signed with Nashville on Monday. βClearly a lot superb historical past in Tampa for my household and I. And finally, attempting to work one thing on the market and fell brief.β
Stamkos stated he most likely believed the window to return was open longer than the Lightning would say, however that when he awakened Monday, he knew he was going elsewhere.
Nonetheless, itβs clear that Stamkos felt disrespected by the method, from the purpose when basic supervisor Julien BriseBois didnβt interact him in extension discussions final summer time, just like the group had with so a lot of their different stars earlier than their remaining seasons. And when BriseBois stated that he wouldnβt supply Stamkos a contract till the 2023-24 season was over.
βOn the finish of the day, there was no query that I used to be prepared to place all that stuff apart to stay a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning,β Stamkos stated in an interview with SportsNet. βMy household and I completely love enjoying for that metropolis and enjoying for the gamers which can be there. It simply appeared like possibly not everybody thought that method.
βAnd pay attention, Iβm a giant, large boy. I can deal with that. We went about doing our enterprise. I believed I performed extraordinarily properly this 12 months, whatever the contract distraction, and simply informed them initially right here that it wasnβt going to have an effect on my play and thatβs one thing that I used to be happy with.
βPay attention, we wished it to finish and retire as a Tampa Bay Lightning (participant). It definitely didnβt work out, however on the finish of the day, in an effort to have a look at your self within the mirror, it’s important to simply be sincere with your self, know your self-worth, know what loyalty and respect means to you, after which transfer on.β
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BriseBois had tried, and failed, prior to now to maintain home-grown gamers like Alex Killorn and Ondrej Palat. In Stamkosβ case, BriseBois discovered the cash to make it work, however didnβt budge from his preliminary supply and finally appeared elsewhere to enhance the staff.
BriseBois initiated contract discussions as quickly because the Lightning had been eradicated by Florida within the first spherical, however he didnβt budge from his take-it-or-leave-it supply, which was believed to be within the $3 million common annual worth vary. When extension talks stalled in June, the Lightning pivoted. Finally weekendβs draft, BriseBois and Stamkosβ agent, Don Meehan, agreed it might be greatest for either side to pursue different dance companions.
And what a pivot it was.
The Lightning traded away highest-paid defenseman Mikhail Sergachev and ahead Tanner Jeannot. With the cap house accrued, BriseBois focused one of many high pending free brokers, buying and selling for ahead Jake Guentzelβs rights Sunday and understanding a seven-year deal. Additionally they are attempting to increase defenseman Victor Hedman as he enters the ultimate 12 months of his contract.
The irony of Stamkosβ touchdown spot is that in Could, the Lightning re-acquired defenseman Ryan McDonagh from Nashville, and McDonaghβs first name was to Stamkos, comfortable that they had been reuniting a misplaced piece of the staffβs Cup championship core. However in the long run, the 2 mates had been ships passing within the evening. Nashville basic supervisor Barry Trotz basically used the cap house he acquired in shifting McDonagh to lure Stamkos.
Regardless of a gradual begin, Stamkos confirmed his worth this previous season, notably when the Lightning had been in peril of lacking the playoffs at midseason. Stamkos elevated his recreation, because the staff compiled the NHLβs third-best document over the second half. He scored 16 objectives within the remaining 17 video games, together with seven on the facility play. His 19 power-play objectives for the season ranked third within the NHL.
Stamkos was the Lightningβs greatest skater within the playoffs, compiling 5 objectives and 6 factors within the first-round collection towards Florida, together with a two-goal, one-assist recreation in a Sport 4 win at Amalie Enviornment that allowed Tampa Bay to keep away from being swept.
However BriseBois made it clear that his chief offseason precedence was making the Lightning a greater defensive staff β they ranked twenty second within the league in objectives allowed β and Stamkosβ career-worst minus-21 ratio final season left room for enchancment.
Stamkos now takes his legacy elsewhere. He’s one in all solely three energetic gamers with 500 objectives and 1,000 factors, becoming a member of Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby.
Stamkos owns basically each Lightning particular person profession document, together with objectives (555), factors (1,137), power-play objectives (214) and video games performed (1,082). His 582 assists path Marty St. Louis by six.
This story will likely be up to date.
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