The Steven Stamkos sweepstakes is over before it even began. The all-world forward, set to become a free agent on July 1, is staying with the Lightning. It was first reported by TSN's Bob Mackenzie. The Red Wings, Maple Leafs and Sabres were among the favorites to sign Stamkos had he left Tampa Bay.
Excited to be back for 8 more years @TBLightning ! Here we go .....
— Steven Stamkos (@RealStamkos91) June 29, 2016
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Tampa took Stamkos, now 26, first overall in the 2008 Entry Draft and he hasn't disappointed, scoring 562 points in 569 games. He's scored 40 goals in four of his eight seasons with the Lightning, including 60 in 2011-12. He's dealt with a few different freakish injuries, including a broken leg in 2013-14 and blood clots this past season, but he's been everything the Lightning wanted and more.
Stamkos will receive an eight-year deal in the $8.5 million average-annual-value range, like what the Lightning offered him in January, per Mackenzie. This puts Tampa in tough spot, though, since they're expected to have $9.5 million in cap space once Stamkos inks that deal. It has to pay restricted free agents Nikita Kucherov, a bonified top-line forward, and Alex Killorn. Next year, Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat will need raises from their $3.33 million AAV.
What the Lightning will probably do next is try to trade goalie Ben Bishop and his $5.95 million cap hit. He's an unrestricted free agent after the season, but 21-year-old Andrei Vasilevskiy seems more like their goalie of the future.
It's been a weird-yet-fun day in the NHL. Taylor Hall went to the Devils straight-up for Adam Larrson, and the Predators and Canadiens swapped Shea Weber and PK Subban. Stay tuned.