There are a number of questions facing the Tampa Bay Lightning this offseason, primarily regarding the impending free agents they have on hand. The most notable question marks revolve around Alex Killorn and Ross Colton. Once the Lightning have a sense of where things sit for next season, the focus will likely shift quickly to the contracts of Captain Steven Stamkos and Brandon Hagel.
In past summers, the Lightning have made it a priority to take care of core players a full year before they reach free agency. Last summer, the Lightning re-signed Anthony Cirelli, Mikhail Sergachev and Erik Cernak. They each signed eight year deals while still having a year remaining on their current deals at the time. Tampa Bay did the same with Brayden Point in 2021.
Each of these deals became priorities once free agency opened up. Hagel and Stamkos are the Lightning’s two glaring pieces entering the final seasons of their current deals. Both of which become eligible to sign extensions on July 1.
For Hagel, he is looking at a seismic raise from his current $1.5 million per season deal which is currently one of the best contracts in the NHL. Hagel turns 25 in August and if past behavior is the best indicator of future behavior, the Lightning will likely look to sign Hagel as soon as possible for as long as possible.
Hagel’s first full season in Tampa was an impressive one, scoring 30 goals and totaling 64 points. His performance alongside Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point for much of the season likely cemented himself as a new member of the Lightning core. The Lightning have shown that securing young members of their core as soon as possible is the way they like to do business as the price for Hagel will only go up.
Hagel’s price tag is is only going up
— Bolts By The Bay (@BoltsByTheBay) April 9, 2023
As for Stamkos, his situation is a little different as he is no longer a “young” core member of this team. That likely will not change things at all as the Lightning will still look to get a deal done with their long time captain. Stamkos has already expressed this summer that the Lightning jersey is the only one he ever wants to wear. There does not seem to be any fear that Stamkos will not re-sign. The matter is only about when he will sign and what the deal will look like.
Stamkos on going into the final year of his contract: "In my eyes, this is the only jersey I ever want to wear in my career."
— Chris Krenn (@Chris_Krenn) May 2, 2023
Stamkos will be 34 next year when his current deal ends. At his age, he probably is looking at a three year deal and likely deserves the same $8.5 million per season. There may be a chance that Stamkos could be willing to take less money to keep the group in tact, but Stamkos is more than deserving of that same number again.
Once the Lightning have clarity on what Tanner Jeannot is going to be paid and where fortunes lie for Alex Killorn and Ross Colton, Hagel and Stamkos will likely be looking at new deals shortly thereafter.