Tampa Bay Lightning Captain Steven Stamkos entered restricted free agency in the summer of 2015 but didn’t re-sign immediately. The question arose to many: why wouldn’t Stamkos re-sign right away?
His team just finished an impressive Cup run, reaching the Stanley Cup Finals for the second time in franchise history. Stamkos assured the press and the public that he wished to remain in Tampa, but, still, doubt remained, and as the 2015-16 season began there was no news from either side.
In February 2016, a report from Sportsnet stated that Tampa Bay Lightning General Manager Steve Yzerman had already offered Stamkos a contract with an $8.