The process put Stamkos in the unusual position of seriously imagining what it might be like to play somewhere other than Tampa for the first time since being drafted first overall in 2008.
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The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy to a three-year contract extension worth $3.5-million per season. “I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t”.
But that lure, which contributed to “a couple of sleepless nights”, wasn’t enough and he re-signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the only National Hockey League team he’s ever played for, and the one he seemed destined to play for.
For some teams, like the Lightning and the Stanley Cup-champion Pittsburgh Penguins, maintaining is more important than adding.
A slew of deals were expected to be done before the sun sets Friday. It was a signal that the core of this team that finished second in the Atlantic Division and reached the Eastern Conference Finals this season one year after winning the Stanley Cup is intent on building something special.
Hedman now ranks third all-time in franchise history among defensemen for career points with 229, behind Dan Boyle (253) and Pavel Kubina (243).
Sanity – or some modest version of sanity – was restored a little previous year, partly because the salary cap was no longer going up in leaps and bounds; but mostly because the free-agent crop frankly wasn’t so great.
The 28-year-old wingers each were signed to $42 million, seven-year contracts Friday – the opening day of free agency – even though neither is a proven or prolific scorer.
“It was a hectic morning”, Weber said. “I was a little emotional this morning”. He and Price were teammates on the Olympic team with Subban.
“Obviously that shows a team that wants you”. “It all worked out in the end”.
After news of his eight-year contract extension made its way around the internet, Stamkos took the time to make a statement regarding his many reasons for remaining here in the Bolts Nation. That all happened with Stamkos playing in just one playoff game due to injury.
Unlike captain Steven Stamkos, who signed an eight-year, $68 million deal two days before free agency, Hedman didn’t waste anytime.
General Manager Steve Yzerman found a way to get it done, extending Hedman for the next eight seasons. “I think the market will fall into place after those guys find destinations and establish the top salary level”. He will have a cap hit of $7.85 million annually.
Tampa Bay has about $13 million in cap space for next season; the cap will be around $73 million.
Lucic has been linked to Edmonton after the Oilers traded Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils Wednesday.
Milan Lucic and Kyle Okposo, two of the NHL’s top free agents, can thank Stamkos for staying in the Sunshine State.
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David Backes. The St. Louis Blues’ long-time captain is coming off an effective playoff run, following a 45-point regular season in which he played multiple different roles, depending upon the health of some of the other key Blues forwards. Campbell essentially lost his spot in Florida when Keith Yandle signed.
