TB Lightning GM has major change of heart on Steven Stamkos

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Josh tupper
May 1, 2024 (10:12)

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On the very first day of NHL Free Agency many people expected the Tampa Bay Lightning to sign team captain Steven Stamkos to a contract extension. Instead Lightning General Manager caught the hockey world off guard by telling fans that he had no intention of currently offering his captain a contract. Instead BriseBois wanted to "wait and see".

I don't have anything to announce right now or don't expect to have anything in the short term. With the cap constraints being more & more challenging to navigate, it makes it harder & harder to get deals done early on, but we obviously think tremendously of both players & hope that both will be with us beyond next season and we have plenty of time to get them signed before they become, in Stammer's case, an unrestricted free agent, and in Brandon's case, a restricted free agent with arbitration rights, next summer.

Stamkos shared immediately that he was disappointed with the lack of talk and made it clear before the season began. Stamkos who had given his entire career to the Lightning, was clearly shaken.

To be honest I've been disappointed in the lack of talk in that regard. So it was something that I expressed at the end of last year that I wanted to get something done before training camp.

I'm ready whenever so I guess that was something that that I didn't see see coming but it is what it is.

Like I stated at the end of last year, too. I would love to extend and play here and finish up my career here but that's out of my hands. I can't write a contract for myself.

Today just days after the Lightning's season ended, General Manager Julien BriseBois shared his new point of view on the entire matter. After allowing his captain to play the entire season without a contract, it now appears he's willing to negotiate with his Captain.

I briefly met with Stammer when we landed after Game 5. I spoke with his agent yesterday it is obviously a priority to see if we can get this done. I am very hopeful."

In this entire situation, the question now remains after playing an entire season without a contract extension is Stamkos still interested in being a member of the Lightning? Or will he likely test free agency for the second time in his career?