Arguably the best player in Tampa Bay Lightning history, Steven Stamkos has the longest contract of any player on the team. He is in the last year of his current deal as he begins the 2023–24 campaign.
Stamkos is scheduled to play out the remaining year of his contract before becoming a free agency in the summer, with the regular season ending less than three weeks ago. That doesn’t sound like it would delight the Lightning captain.
According to Lightning Insider, Stamkos stated, “To be honest, I’ve been disappointed in the lack of talk in that regard.” “I wanted to finish something before training camp, so I mentioned that at the conclusion of the previous year. That was something I didn’t see coming, but it is what it is, and I’m ready whenever.
Stamkos is still a productive player on the ice, no doubt about it. Over the past two seasons, the 33-year-old has scored 190 points, which is the most points he has ever had in a two-year period in his NHL career. In 2020 and 2021, he led the Lightning to consecutive Stanley Cup victories.
Though it seems strange to speculate, is this Steven Stamkos’ final season with the Lightning? After Tampa Bay selected him with the first pick in the 2008 NHL draft, he has spent his whole NHL career with the organization. As a professional, he has only inked three contracts, all with the Lightning, each one granting him more years and money than the previous.
The Lightning might want to take a different approach the following season, regardless of whether he contributes or not this year. But Stamkos has earned the right to spend his entire career in Tampa. It’s going to be an exciting development.
