In the words of Lewis Capaldi, “I wanna say I wish that you never left… Oh, but instead I only wish you the best.” As of Saturday afternoon, the Tampa Bay Lightning have played four games without their all-time great Steven Stamkos. Stamkos has moved to Nashville where his now hometown Predators have played five games so far. It’s a small sample size. But as of now, the two teams are on very different tracks. Parting with Stamkos was not easy for Lightning fans. Some blame general manager Julien BriseBois for letting him go. Others blame Stamkos for abandoning our city. No matter which side you’re on, Tampa Bay fans should all be wishing Stamkos the best.
The History
So how did the Lightning let the best player in their history get away? Stamkos was the first overall pick in the 2008 draft. He played 16 seasons with the Bolts. He won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard trophy as the league’s top goal scorer in 2010 and 2012. Stamkos was the face of the team and led the Lightning to their back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021.
Back in 2013, Steven Stamkos signed an 8-year, 68 million dollar contract to stay in Tampa Bay (average annual value of 8.5 million). He could have gotten more elsewhere but took a “team friendly” deal. The 8.5 million still did make Stamkos one of the highest paid players in the NHL at that time. But it set a standard for the organization. Other players followed the example of their captain and took “team friendly” deals of their own. Stamkos’ sacrifice certainly played a key role in building one of the top hockey teams of this generation.
Taking the Best Offer
The Lightning faithful were very aware that Stamkos’ 8-year deal was coming to an end after last season. Many hoped for an extension before free agency. But we live in a salary cap restrictive era and the Bolts are in a constant struggle to stay within that cap. Stamkos turned 34 years old and Julien BriseBois had the tough job of trying to ascertain how much money (and cap space) his superstar was worth at this point. He weighed many factors and made Stamkos the best offer he felt he could with the given circumstances. It was starting to look doubtful as free agency loomed.
One day before free agency, the Bolts announced a new deal. It was not a Stamkos signing. It was a trade for the rights to Jake Guentzel, a superstar in his own right and five years younger than Stamkos. Guentzel also could have become a free agent the following day. However, it was clear the Lightning would not have traded for his rights if they did not already have a deal worked out.
That deal was announced early the next day. Seven years, 63 million dollars. That did not leave much room for a Stamkos contract. And soon enough, it was over. Steven Stamkos signed with the Nashville Predators for 32 million dollars over four years.
And How Are They Doing Now?
It is very early in this young season, but Guentzel has been excellent. He has tallied points in each of the team’s first four games (1 goal and 4 assists) and has been a big contributor to the Lightning’s 3-1 start. Stamkos, on the other hand, has struggled to settle in. He had no points in his first four games with the Predators. He did find the back of the net Saturday afternoon with a power play goal (of note: the Bolts’ poor power play was their downfall in Saturday’s loss to the Senators). Stamkos has 1 point in 5 games and his team sports a 0-5-0 record.
Fan reactions were mixed. Some were looking at Stamkos’ poor early season statistics and taking them as proof that BriseBois had made the right decision. Stamkos’ career is in decline and he did not deserve his big contract.
Others are still seething at BriseBois for what they consider a stab in the back to a player who grew up right before our eyes and gave his all to his team and this city.
The Dilemma
Should we be rooting be against our former captain? In some ways, this is just human nature. We want to feel like we made the right decision not committing a large chunk of our salary cap towards him. We want to feel like our team made Stamkos a superstar and maybe he won’t be that same star without his Lightning teammates.
The key to remember is that hockey, like any other profession, is a business. BriseBois did what he believed was giving him the best chance to put a contending team on the ice. And Stamkos took the best deal that was being offered to him.
Both parties acted in good faith. Both parties did what they believed was in their best interests.
Time will tell, but in all likelihood, Nashville overpaid for Steven Stamkos. He was an excellent player for the Bolts and their top goal scorer of all time. But over the years, his five on five play had gone downhill and his defense was below average. The Predators might get their money’s worth on him this season and possibly even next season. But by the end of his contract, Stamkos will be 38 years old and it’s highly unlikely that his play will be anywhere close to an 8 million dollar level.
We Wish You The Best
As difficult as it might be, we, as fans, ought to root for Stamkos’ success. He gave the Bay area his all over 16 years and was a key factor in building a championship team. Sad as it was, the time was right for him to move on- from a team perspective and from his own personal perspective.
It’s hard to see Steven Stamkos wearing a different jersey. It feels wrong and it hurts our hearts a little bit. But it’s the reality of the NHL today. Stamkos was a class act throughout his time in Tampa Bay and fans should show our class in wishing him the best as a Predator (except when he’s playing against the Lightning).
To our all-time great captain… thank you for the last 16 years. We look forward to a day in the not-so-distant future when we will all leap to our feet in applause as your famous number ninety-one is hoisted up to the rafters of Amalie Arena, enshrining you as a Bolt for life; for now, though, as much as we want to say that we wish that you never left.. oh, but instead, we only wish you the best.
