Stamkos stays in Tampa

[Jasmine]

BREAKING: Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning agree to terms on 8-year deal worth $8.5 million per season. (via TSN)

[Alfie11]

8.5 is pretty good for Tampa.

[Josh]

Yeah, this is a good deal for Tampa in the short term. I'm pretty happy that this got done. Most of the teams he was rumored to be going to were within the division anyways, and I like to see players of his calibre stick where they're drafted. I also think this means that Tampa will have to get rid of at least one of Drouin, Johnson, Kucherov, or Palat in the near future (not this summer though), and if one of those players could make their way out of the division - or onto the Sens - it would be a good thing. In short, I actually think this makes Tampa less competitive 2-3 years from now.

[Alfie11]

I need to say haha to all the Leaf fans that thought they were landing Stamkos in free agency. Especially the ones who went as far as to buy a Leaf jersey with his name on the back

[Jasmine]

Some of those fans are not the sharpest tool in the box, right?? Who the hell goes out to purchase a jersey, customized and all before the actual trade/signature is done?? Wow ......mind you the fans in Buffalo say Hi with their McDavid jerseys loll

[Alfie11]

Some of those fans are not the sharpest tool in the box, right?? Who the hell goes out to purchase a jersey, customized and all before the actual trade/signature is done?? Wow ......mind you the fans in Buffalo say Hi with their McDavid jerseys loll

Yup, exactly. How many free agents were all but Leafs, according to their fans and the media? I can think of a few off the top of my head. You'd think they would have learned, but oh well. It's good entertainment, at least.

I think this worked out better for Toronto, however. They likely would have had to pay $10M+ and I don't think his impact on a game is worth that. They're better with sticking to what they have.