Player News

• Predators' Steven Stamkos: Headed for Music City

  07/01/2024 • By RotoWire

  Stamkos signed a four-year, $32 million contract with Nashville on Monday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports. Stamkos will don a different sweater for the first time in his 16-year NHL career, having played 1,082 regular-season games for the Lightning since they drafted him back in 2008. The two-time Stanley Cup champion should immediately move into a first-line role while also taking a spot on Nashville's No. 1 power-play unit. Stamkos has reached the 80-point mark in each of the last three seasons and there is no reason to expect 2024-25 to be any different.

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• Steven Stamkos: Poised to become free agent

  06/29/2024 • By RotoWire

  Stamkos is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 after Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said Friday that he's not sure the two sides will reach an agreement on a new deal, per Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com. There's loads of speculation that the Bolts offered a $24 million deal, but over eight years to lower the AAV to $3 million. Stamkos, who is 34, scored 40 goals and had 81 points in 2023-24. He's Tampa Bay's all-time franchise leader in games played (1,082), goals (555), points (1,137), even-strength goals (336), even-strength points (707), power-play goals (214), power-play points (422), overtime goals (13), game-winning goals (85) and shots (3,332). Stamkos is best deployed on the wing but can still play down the middle. He should have plenty of suitors if he tests the open market, especially from teams seeking leadership and Cup experience. The Lightning freed some cap space by trading Mikhail Sergachev to Utah on Saturday, so the door may not be closed on a potential contract extension with Stamkos.

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• Lightning's Steven Stamkos: Two goals help extend campaign

  04/28/2024 • By RotoWire

  Stamkos deposited two goals, including a power-play tally, in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Panthers to stave off elimination in Game 4 of the conference quarterfinals. After receiving an incredible backhand feed from Brayden Point for the game's first goal, Stamkos ripped one of his patented wrist shots past Sergei Bobrovsky to put the Lightning up 5-3 at 9:34 in the third period. The performance gave the electrifying forward 50 playoff goals for his career, and 101 postseason points. Stamkos has five goals and an assist in this first-round series, and his impressive showing Saturday left the door open for more playoff action for the Bolts. Game 5 is set for Monday.

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• Lightning's Steven Stamkos: Goal streak at three games

  04/26/2024 • By RotoWire

  Stamkos scored a goal on two shots and added six hits, two blocked shots and a minus-2 rating Thursday in a 5-3 loss to the Panthers in Game 3 of the Lightning's first-round series. The 34-year-old has done his best to keep Tampa Bay afloat, finding the back of the net in three straight games to begin the playoffs, but his team still faces the prospect of getting swept after losing all three contests. Stamkos also has a couple career milestones in his sights -- he needs two more playoff goals for 50 in his caree, and one more playoff point for 100. He might need to reach both marks Saturday in Game 4 in order for the Lightning to stay alive.

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• Lightning's Steven Stamkos: Puts up two points

  04/22/2024 • By RotoWire

  Stamkos picked up a power-play goal and an assist in a 3-2 Game 1 loss to Florida on Sunday. Stamkos provided a secondary assist late in the first period to tie the game up for the Lightning. He added a power-play goal with 10 seconds left in the game to pull his team within one, but Tampa Bay couldn't complete the comeback. The 34-year-old winger also notched three hits, three shots on net and two PIM in 15:52 of ice time. It was Stamkos' 28th multi-point playoff game, second in Lightning history behind teammate Nikita Kucherov. The Lightning return to the ice Tuesday for Game 2 in Florida.

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