Tampa Bay Lightning: Steven Stamkos Proves His Worth As Captain

Tampa Bay Lightning Center Steven Stamkos re-signs with the Bolts and proves his worth as Captain.

Let me begin by saying that I was one of the pessimists who believed that Steven Stamkos was going to chase the big money he would have found outside of the Tampa Bay Lightning organization. Let me now swallow my pride and admit how happy I am to be wrong.

On June 29, 2016, Steven Stamkos put an end to a debate that had engulfed the Hockey world for almost two years by signing a 8 year, $68 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Yes, that is a lot of money, but, what is even more impressive is that Stamkos decided to stay in Tampa for that amount of money.

For a moment, put yourself in Stammer’s skates. Here you are coming into the prime of your career. You are one of the most prolific goal scorers in today’s NHL. You are the Captain of a team only one year removed from a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.

You are widely renowned as being an elite player in the NHL. This is the one moment you will have in your career to rake in stupid amounts of money. This has to be one of the most difficult decisions of a young man’s life.

One can only imagine and speculate as to what kind of offers were thrown at Stamkos but we can safely assume that very large numbers were discussed in detail. So what makes a young man turn down those big offers and re-sign with the team that drafted him first overall in the 2008 NHL Draft.

One word. Loyalty.

Steven Stamkos could have essentially left for any team of his liking. He could have easily pulled in a mega contract in Buffalo. He could have played for a storied original six franchise in Detroit. He could have headed home and been the “Savior” of his childhood team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

But, none of those options felt right for Stammer. None of those options were where his heart called home. Instead chose to stay for his now hometown team and at a price that would not handcuff GM Steve Yzerman.

In signing a contract with an AAV of $8.5 million, Stamkos has allowed Yzerman room to sign other key components to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s present and future success.

On July1, 2016 D Victor Hedman signed a 8 year, $63 million contract with the Lightning. With talks already swirling about Hedman becoming a Free Agent next off-season, this was a huge signing for the franchise. Future star G Andrei Vasilevskiy was re-signed to a 3-year contract extension.

Both the Hedman and Vasilevskiy signings were a result of Stammer signing a contract for that specific amount.

Athletes come and go from every team, in every sport, every season. The love of the game is no longer the most important thing in major sports, money is. That is the exact reason why most NHL analysts and fans alike assumed that Stamkos would jump ship for the right price.

He proved the naysayers, including myself, wrong. In doing so he showed the hockey world that Tampa Bay is a legitimate hockey market, a great organization and that the Bolts made the correct decision in naming him the 10th Captain in Franchise history.

Stamkos has proven that he deserves to be the Captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning. This is his team, this is his home, this is where he wants to win. The Blue sweater with the Lightning logo is what he wants to be wearing when he raises the Stanley Cup over his head and brings glory back to Tampa Bay.

Next: Tampa Bay Lightning Sign G Kristers Gudlevskis

The rest of the sports world should take note of Steven Stamkos. He is the true Captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

O Captain! My Captain!