TAMPA, Fla. — Have you seen Steven Stamkos?
He was inside AMALIE Arena for the past 16 years and now Tampa Bay Lightning fans will, most likely, only get to see the former captain twice a season. The Associated Press confirms Stamkos will now don a Nashville Predators jersey after reportedly signing a 4-year, $32 million deal.
His accomplishments in a Bolts sweater are endless. He is the all-time leader in games (1,082), goals (555), points (1,137), even-strength goals (336), even-strength points (707), power-play goals (214), power-play points (422), overtime goals (13), game-winning goals (85) and shots (3,332).
Stamkos is also 7-time NHL All-Star, and is one of 18 players in NHL history to record at least seven 40-goal seasons and is one of four active skaters with at least two 50-goal campaigns.
The former first overall pick in 2008 helped revitalize a franchise that went dormant after the NHL lockout in 2004-05.
Stamkos took to the social media app X, formerly known as Twitter, to confirm he is no longer a Bolt and to thank the city of Tampa.
"Thank you Tampa [heart emojis] I don't have the words yet ... I will soon," Stamkos wrote. "It's still too early to process. Just wanted everyone to know how thankful we are for 16 years as a bolt. My family and I are excited for the next chapter..."
In the past, Tampa Bay Lightning fans had to watch Vinny Lecavalier leave the franchise after 14 years in 2013, though, Lecavalier was battling injuries by this time in his career. Also, his production had dipped significantly and the contract was long and expensive so the organization took advantage of a 'compliance buy-out' and moved on. Lecavalier played three more seasons without the Bolts.
Fans were not happy, but there was understanding.
The Lightning also traded Martin St. Louis in 2014, someone who Steven Stamkos considered a role model. In that instance, St. Louis left as the bad guy as he asked for a trade. Bolts fans have since forgiven him, but it was a contentious departure at the time.
With Stamkos? That departure will be firmly on Bolts general manager Julien BriseBois.
Stamkos missed five games the last three seasons and tallied 271 points, including a career-high 106 points in 2021-22. Reports indicate he is signing a four-year deal worth $32 million.
The Lightning traded Mikhail Sergachev, not to allocate those funds to their captain, but to sign Jake Guentzel to a historic franchise free agent deal at seven-year, $63 million dollars.