Michael Chisholm/NHLI by way of Getty Pictures
After 16 seasons and two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Steven Stamkos is leaving for Nashville.
Steven Stamkos signed a four-year, $32 million contract with the Nashville Predators in free company, in keeping with Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Stamkos took to social media on Monday to share a message to Tampa:
Stamkos beforehand expressed frustration that the Lightning had not begun contract negotiations earlier than the 2023-24 season, per NHL.com’s Corey Lengthy.
Stamkos’ agent instructed TSN’s Pierre LeBrun on June 28 that Stamkos deliberate to hit free company on July 1. Lightning normal supervisor Julien BriseBois confirmed the information the next day, per NHL.com’s Amalie Benjamin.
In contrast to in 2016, when the Lightning signed Stamkos to a long-term deal two days earlier than free company, the events weren’t in a position to compromise earlier than he hit the open market.
Stamkos will now be part of the Predators after recording 40 objectives and 41 assists in 79 video games final season.
The marketing campaign marked his sixth point-per-game season in seven years, in addition to the seventh 40-goal season of his profession.
Stamkos’ earlier eight-year, $68 million cope with the Lightning expired following the group’s five-game elimination by the Florida Panthers within the first spherical of the 2024 playoffs. The Lightning captain led his group with 5 objectives in 5 video games throughout the first-round collection.
The 34-year-old sharpshooter is bound to be an enormous increase to Nashville’s offense.
Stamkos was a key a part of the rationale the Lightning completed the common season with the best energy play within the NHL. He recorded 39 of his factors (19 objectives, 20 assists) on the person benefit because of his deadly one-timer.
That shot is likely one of the causes Stamkos has been in a position to set up himself as probably the most prolific scorers in NHL historical past throughout his first 17 seasons with the Lightning.
Stamkos completed the 2023-24 season as one in all six energetic NHL gamers with greater than 1,100 profession factors. He trails solely the Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin and Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby because the league’s most prolific energetic scorer with 555 profession objectives.
Stamkos entered the league with the Lightning because the No. 1 choose of the 2008 draft and has since skated in 1,082 regular-season and 128 playoff video games for Tampa Bay.
Though his jersey will definitely be retired sometime by the Lightning, Stamkos may turn out to be a part of one other franchise’s historical past by serving to lead Nashville on a playoff run in 2025.