Captain Steven Stamkos said he's never thought he's taken his Lightning jersey off for the final times.
And Stamkos, due to be an unrestricted free agent July 1, maintains he "definitely" wants to stay in Tampa Bay long-term, he and the team still hopeful something can get done.
"I hope to be back," Stamkos said. "We have some unfinished business. This group has been unbelievable, this city has been unbelievable to me. I can't believe it's been eight years already, time flies. The last couple years, you can finally see that light, you still haven't got to it, but it's there, it's dangling right in front of us.