They may want it or not, but the Tampa Bay Lightning will have to accept an early end to this year’s season after an early loss in first round against the Florida Panthers.
The recent back-to-back Stanley Cup champions fell 4-1 to their neighbors after losing Game 5 by a stunning 6-1 result, presenting a clear picture of Where Tampa stands in terms of their roster and roster. chance to land a deep playoff run in the next few years.
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Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning is an unrestricted free agent pending.
They may or may not want to, but the Tampa Bay Lightning will have to accept coming early this season after an early loss in the first round to the Florida Panthers.
The recent back-to-back Stanley Cup champions fell 4-1 to their neighbors after losing Game 5 by a stunning 6-1 result, painting a clear picture of the situation in Tampa regarding the team their appearance and chances of meeting each other. a deep playoff run in the next few years.
With summer fast approaching and no games left to play, the first thing the Lightning need to think about is knowing what to do with Tampa’s longtime captain Fly. Steven Stamkos, who waited for everyone to leave the field after the defeat on Monday, April 29 before leaving the field himself.
As The Athletic’s X account mused on April 29, “ This Was this his last appearance in the Tampa Bay Shirt?
Steven Stamkos will become a free agent on July 1
Stamkos entered free agency for the first time in his career this summer after spending 16 seasons in Tampa Bay. That will be the case unless the Lightning and the veteran can agree to an extension before July 1.
The team captain turned 34 last February and will finish the season next tournament at the age of 35, which could give an aging player pause. The Lightning team signed him to a big contract. Stamkos is set to sign an eight-year, $68 million contract that runs through June 2024.
Stamkos has led Tampa Bay to four Stanley Cup finals in the past 10 years, including trips there in 2015, 2020, 2021 and 2022., but he was only able to help his team lift the cup in consecutive seasons to start this decade, falling to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015 and the Colorado Avalanche in 2022.
The Lightning drafted Stamkos with the No. 1 pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and he debuted in the campaign following the event and started a few months later .
Stamkos played in 79 games as a rookie and since his debut, he has played in 1,082 regular season games for Tampa Bay, scoring 555 goals and 582 assists for 1,137 points. In the postseason, Stamkos recorded 50 goals and 51 assists in 128 games, including Monday’s loss to Florida.
Suitors and suitors: Followers Chasing Steven Stamkos’ Potential
So with Stamkos about to hit free agency, it makes sense to find analysts trying to find potential spots where he can extend his playing career starting next season.
Bleacher Report analyst Lyle Fitzsimmons immediately listed the five best landing spots for Stamkos if he is indeed brought into the fold. freedom in an article published shortly after the Lightning were eliminated on Monday, Apr
il 29.