The hockey world was thrown off by the news that the Lightning hadn't had conversations about a Stamkos contract extension, but inside the Lightning locker room, he hasn't let his frustration linger.
Lightning captain Steven Stamkos made headlines last month at Media Day when he expressed his “disappointment” that GM Julien BriseBois hadn’t had a conversation yet about extending his contract. Stamkos told the team at the end of last season that he’d like to have an extension done before training camp started. The hockey world was thrown off by the news given his lasting impact on the team and in the community, but inside the Lightning locker room, he hasn’t let his frustration linger.
“He’s played great and that stuff will take care of itself. All we can focus on are the games at hand,” Victor Hedman told reporters on Saturday following morning skate. “He’s been through a lot in his career. This doesn’t bother us one bit.”
Stamkos had two goals and an assist in the loss at Detroit last week before a slight injury took him out of the lineup. He’s heading into the Saturday night playoff rematch against Toronto with points in all three of the games he’s played.
Anytime Toronto comes into town, the questions about Stamkos flow and Saturday was no different. The last time he extended his contract with the Lightning in 2016, he chose to remain in Tampa over playing for his hometown.
Stamkos has repeatedly expressed his desire to stay in Tampa to finish his career. He’s the face of the franchise and continues to produce at a high level. While out of the lineup on a day-to-day injury last week in Ottawa and Buffalo, the team stumbled, taking two loses on the road. He’s become a pillar in the organization and in doing so, he’s won over the city of Tampa as well.
Asked how Stamkos has handled his contract situation Lightning coach Jon Cooper said, “Honestly, had that not come up, I probably would not have even known it existed.”
“And that’s how it is in the room. You know, everybody in our locker room is pretty team-oriented and focused and Steven is the leader of that group and the concerns he has, it’s never come up in our room, or not with me, anyway. And I’ve been with these guys a long time. It hasn’t affected him because his play has been great.”