After his team’s late-game Game 5 loss last season Florida Panthers, Steven Stamkos remained on the ice and greeted each teammate before going down the tunnel. This could be Stamkos’ last moment as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, but head coach Jon Cooper hopes it doesn’t happen.
Stamkos, 34, will become unrestricted free agent this summer. Contract negotiations between the Lightning captain and the team appear to be going nowhere. Stamkos’ future is highly uncertain, but Cooper can’t imagine his captain being on another team.
“I don’t know if there will be much discussion [about Stamkos leaving] no,” Cooper said in his post- match press conference. “Anyway, I hope not. His place is here. He knows it. Again, just two seconds after a match, but he and I grew up together. He’s a great player. … I don’t know what’s going to happen, but he feels like a Bolt for life, but only he and Julien [BriseBois] can answer that question.”
When the time comes passed at Amerant Bank Arena, the Panthers held the lead which only increased thanks to a pair of empty-net goals. The game ended 6–1 in favor of the Panthers thinking about whether this was the final against Lightning or not. “No, that never crossed my mind. ” Stamkos said. Let’s fight to help our team win at the end of the game, no matter what the score is. Our team has some pride.”
If Stamkos enters the open market , there will be a slew of teams around the area trying to sign him. A two-time Stanley Cup champion, Stamkos has 555 goals and 582 assists in 1,082 games played. Stamkos may not be at the peak of his powers anymore, but he’s still an elite weapon on the power play and he can provide a wealth of experience and leadership to any locker room in the tournament.
The question is ” I don’t know if Stamkos has made big plays yet. The question is if he continues to do that in a Lightning uniform or not.