For those hoping to see Steven Stamkos return to the Tampa Bay Lightning next season, buckle up because as of Friday, those chances don't look great.
BriseBois was pretty blunt with his response, saying that they're unsure if they'll be able to reach an agreement on a contract with their captain Steven Stamkos, who is one of the best players in Lightning franchise history. BriseBois added that they met with Stamkos' agent on Thursday and both sides would like to get something done before July 1st, but doesn't sound too confident of that happening.
Stamkos, a native of Markham, Ontario had a great season for the Lightning, where he recorded his seventh-career 40+ goal season. In 79 games, the Lightning captain had 81 points (40 goals, 41 assists), 34 penalty minutes and was a minus-21. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he played a big role as everyone was expecting, scoring five goals in five games, but it wasn't enough as Tampa Bay lost to their state rivals, the Florida Panthers, in round one.
The 34-year-old has spent his entire 16-year career with the Tampa Bay Lightning after they selected him first overall in 2008. He quickly became a fan favourite, known for his goal scoring ability and led the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021. If he does leave the Lightning on Monday, it'll leave a hole in the heart of the team that'll be irreplaceable.
